Galling defeat

A SUMMER of immense progress came to a disappointing end for Meath as their hopes of All-Ireland glory evaporated in this MFC semi-final at Croke Park on Saturday.

The young Royals recorded their poorest display of the campaign in the seven-point defeat, but credit must go to Galway who produced a very slick performance to end deserving winners.

The Connacht champions rattled in three goals in a devastating seven-minute spell in the third quarter and there was no coming back from that for Joe Treanor’s side.

Boosted by two opportunistic goals, Meath led 2-4 to 0-6 at half-time, but even in that opening 30 minutes - during which the Royals played their best football - there were indications that Galway posed a major threat.

That is how the game manifested itself as the Tribesmen turned

Galway Meath 3-13 2-9

on the style throughout the second half to book their final spot.

Meath were forced to play second best for most of that second period around the middle third of the pitch, it left them seriously exposed at the back and they were somewhat fortunate that Galway didn’t finish with a much bigger goal tally.

Galway did have opportunities to find the net in the opening half, but keeper Sean Brennan came to Meath’s rescue on two occasions. However, that tide of flowing, attacking football increased in intensity in the second half and it eventually reaped its reward for the westerners.

The game was just 90 seconds old when livewire Cathal Sweeney burst through the Meath cover to open the scoring. Centre forward Aidan Halloran then created an opening after cutting in along the endline, but keeper Brennan was equal to Eoghan Tinney’s goal effort.

Galway did most of the attacking during those early exchanges, but Meath eventually settled into the game after Bryan McCormack had them off the mark with a fine effort from the right wing. David Bell then pointed Meath ahead from a free, before Sweeney responded at the other end.

Sweeney then restored Galway’s lead, but Meath seemed to be getting to grips with the pace of the game when Matthew Costello set up Luke Mitchell who drilled an effort low to the net on 14 minutes.

The eventual winners managed three further points before the end of the half and all came after Meath