Meath……………………………1-25
Offaly…………………………….0-21.
Meath dipped back into their stored history when reprising their legendary 2-22 to 5-12 Leister final win over Offaly in 1970 when they turned round a ten point interval deficit to win, something they did again yesterday in this quarter final clash at home in Navan to a large crowd of over 5,700 with strong support for the visitors.
It was a case of anything you can do we can better and with help of the strong wide and Meath forwards finding their shooting boots, they pulled back a massive 10 point lead that the Faithful County men held at the break. It was 0-15 to o-5 at the interval. but with the new rules it is becoming clear you can’t read too much into that type of a lead. Five good long range points pulls you back in. That was the simple analysis.
More importantly Brennan men delivered right through the second half and as he introduced players from the bench they too delivered. Offaly came to town as Division 3 winners and brought that positivity with them. They took Meath apart with the fast and slick movement. Good scores from Jack Bryant, Shane Tierney, Kyle Higgins and Cormac Egan were putting them in the driving seat. The breeze was also playing a part and Offaly made good use of it.
That barrage of successful second period two-point shooting, aided by a strong breeze, Meath showed they were more than happy to take the challenge to Offaly in Páirc Tailteann on home ground. They lost in Division 2 at Inniskeen to Louth but this Sunday they were the better outfit. You could be excused if you lost faith in the Royal county but they fought to their credit and now find themselves facing Dublin in two week’s time in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
Meath Senior football manager, Robbie Brennan during the Meath v Offaly Leinster SFC game at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, County Meath.
Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net
Daire McDaid (Offaly) and Aaron Lynch (Meath) during the Meath v Offaly Leinster SFC game at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, County Meath.
Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net
In the end they outscored an enthusiastic Offaly outfit. The new rules are bringing long range shooting and scores, fielding at midfield and may be slowing turning football back to football that crowds want. Carlow and Offaly dispatched as would have been expected, the litmus test of were Meath are will come in two weeks time. But for now the county will enjoy the wins.
Meath: Billy Hogan (0-02, 1tpf); Brian O’Halloran, Seán Rafferty, Seamus Lavin; Donal Keogan, Seán Coffey (0-01), Ciarán Caulfield; Jack Flynn (0-02, 1tp), Bryan Menton (0-01); Conor Duke (0-04, 2tp), Ruairí Kinsella, Mathew Costello (0-09, 0-02 frees, 1tp, 1tpf); Eoghan Frayne (0-03, 0-01 free, 1tpf), Diarmuid Moriarty, Keith Curtis.
Subs: Aaron Lynch (0-01) for Moriarty (46 mins), Shane Walsh for Curtis (55), James Conlon (1-02) for Kinsella (60), Ronan Ryan for Rafferty (64), Adam O’Neill for Lavin (70), Cathal Hickey for Frayne (70+3)
Offaly: Paddy Dunican (0-05, 0-01 45, 2tpf); Lee Pearson, Rory Egan, Daire McDaid; Cormac Egan (0-01), John Furlong, Aidan Bracken; Jack McEvoy, Jordan Hayes; Kyle Higgins (0-02, 1tp), Cathal Flynn, Keith O’Neill (0-06, 2tp, 0-01 free); Dylan Hyland (0-04, 0-03 frees), Jack Bryant (0-01), Shane Tierney (0-02).
Subs: Aaron Leavy for Bracken (63), Eoin Sawyer for Tierney (64), David Dempsey for McDaid (65)
Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).
