Meath let Donegal wriggle off the hook on Saturday evening and manager Andy McEntee hopes his players can learn from the mistakes that were made in Ballybofey.

Speaking at a media event in Pairc Tailteann today ahead of Sunday’s Allianz FL Division 2 round 3 clash with Armagh, the Royal County boss described the 1-13 to 0-14 round 2 reversal as a ‘harsh lesson’.

“For a lot of the game it was very, very positive,” he remarked. “We did a lot of things well for about 60 minutes. We had restricted them to 10 scores and then in the last 12, 13 minutes they score 1-3 to no reply. I suppose it’s a very harsh lesson and it is really hard to take.”

He added: “We had some very good individual displays, a good collective display. Defensively we were very good, midfield was strong and there was some really good scores up front.

“If you took a really objective look at it you’d say there are a lot of positives from the game but this is a results business. It’s disappointing in that regard.”

The game’s turning point arrived in the 59th minute when Caolan McGonagle’s goal against the run of play turned the tide in the home side’s favour.

Eoghan Ban Gallagher’s speculative delivery broke kindly for the Tir Chonaill side’s number 12 inside the large rectangle and he diverted the ball past Meath netminder Andy Colgan

“That came at a stage when I thought we were really in control of the game,” McEntee stated.

“I felt Donegal were getting desperate. Even the ball in itself seemed to be a nothing ball. Slight confusion and slight hesitation and it ends up in the net. I suppose that shows you if you switch off for a second the better teams are going to punish you.”

The team in green and gold – who have two points on the board following their opening round win over Tipperary - will bid to bounce back from the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat when they welcome Kieran McGeeney & Co to Navan this Sunday (2pm).

“Look it, there’s no point dwelling on it. You got to hopefully learn something from it and get on with it because the games come thick and fast in this group and they don’t get any easier.

“Armagh here on Sunday is going to be a huge battle and it’s going to be a huge test for everyone.”

The Meath manager was an interested spectator when the Orchard County got the better of Donegal in last month’s Dr McKenna Cup semi-final at Healy Park.

“They worked extremely hard, have a very definite plan and some good finishers. They have a lot of good young players coming through. As I said, it’s going to prove to be a huge test for everybody,” he concluded.

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