Leinster MFC: Rowe rules as Royals rout Wicklow
April 19, 2014
Wicklow's Eoin Murtagh with Meath's James Cullen during the opening round of the Leinster MFC at Pairc Tailteann.
Wicklow 1-6
Daire Rowe led the way as Meath powered to a triple scores Electric Ireland Leinster MFC first round win over Wicklow at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon.
The Syddan clubman scored 1-7 while eight of his team mates got off the mark as Eoin Carroll's charges eased to a quarter-final meeting with Offaly.
The scores were tied once early on before Meath took advantage of the elements to build a considerable buffer between the sides by half-time when 11 points separated the sides.
By the 50th minute there were 23 points in it, 3-16 to 0-2, before a late Wicklow surge led by Blessington's Mickey O'Connor improved the look of the scoreline from the visitors' perspective.
Though listed at number 11, Rowe spent his time at full-forward where a number of markers couldn't contain the Syddan clubman
Backed by the breeze blowing from the town end, Meath bossed the opening quarter after Wicklow's Patrick O'Connor replied to Dylan Brady's opening point for the Royals.
With Daire Rowe leading the charge, Eoin Carroll's charges kicked-on, opening up a 1-7 to 0-1 advantage by the end of the opening quarter. The Syddan teenager's goal was the highlight of the early exchanges.
Points from the Dunboyne pair Shane Cumiskey and Ronan Jones helped Meath open up an nine-point lead heading into the second-quarter.
Wing-back Ronan McDonagh also got in on the act before the scoring rate dropped. Meath 'keeper Johnny Lynch got down smartly to save well from Wicklow's Patrick O'Connor in the 21st minute.
Seconds later Rowe registered his fourth point of the half. He also got the last score before the break from a free. In between Wicklow's Brendan Behan doubled his side's tally.
At the break Meath led by 1-10 to 0-2. Rowe resumed where he left off fisting over a point having cut in from the stand side. Then he pointed a free before placing David McLoughlin for the Royals' second goal.
That left the nearby scoreboard reading 2-12 to 0-2. McLoughlin might have got for a second goal. The Moynalvey-man had to settle for a point after the intervention of Wicklow 'keeper Ian Murphy.
Murphy intervened again forcing McLoughlin to fire over. Then it was James Cullen's turn to get in on the scoring act, chipping over a brace of points before netting after a Rowe attempt was blocked.
Heading into the final ten minutes the Meath led by 3-16 to 0-2, after James Cullen netted when Rowe's point attempt was blocked by a Wicklow defender.
A well-taken Mickey O'Connor goal softened the final scoreline from Wicklow's perspective. Defenders Dan Ormsby and Jordan McLoughlin got on the scoresheet as the Royals advanced to a quarter-final meeting with Offaly. Wicklow will have a second chance against Kilkenny.
Scorers: Meath - Daire Rowe 1-7 (0-3fs); James Cullen, David McLoughlin 1-2 each; Shane Cumiskey 0-2; Dan Ormsby, Jordan McLoughlin, Ronan McDonagh, Ronan Jones, Dylan Brady 0-1 each.
Scorers: Wicklow - Mickey O'Connor 1-2 (0-2 fs); Brendan Behan, Patrick O'Connor 0-2 each;
Meath - Johnny Lynch (Moynalty); Jack O'Connor (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Iarla Hughes (Summerhill), Dan Ormsby (Dunshaughlin); Jordan McLoughlin (Dunboyne), Brian Harnan (C), (Moynalvey), Ronan McDonagh (Clann na nGael); Charlie Bird (Boardsmill), Ronan McDonagh (Clann na nGael); Charlie Bird (Boardsmill), Ronan Jones (Dunboyne); Dylan Brady (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Daire Rowe (Syddan), Shane Cumiskey (Dunboyne); Ross Ryan (Summerhill), James Cullen (Trim), David McLoughlin (Moynalvey). Subs - Declan McGuinness (Navan O'Mahonys) for McDonagh (ht), Paudge McGowan (Slane) for Rowe (52), Darren Heaney (Duleek-Bellewstown) for Cullen (52), Evan Hendrick (Na Fianna) for Bird (54), Jack Giles (Donaghmore-Ashbourne) for O'Connor (55), Sean Power (St Ultan's) for Cumiskey (55).
Wicklow - Ian Murphy (St Patrick's); Brian Miley (Valleymount), Sean O'Brien (St Patrick's), David Gethins (Baltinglass); Eoin Baker (Avondale), Eoin Murtagh (Dunlavin), Jack Gilligan (Blessington); Martin Shannon (Blessington), Stephen Cruise (Rathnew); Gary Allen, Shane Lohan (Bray Emmets), Patrick O'Connor (Blessington); Jordan Nolan (Blessington), Brendan Behan (Shillelagh), Mickey O'Connor (Blessington). Subs - Darren Walsh (Newtown) for O'Brien (23), Martin Cullen (Barndarrig) for Lohan (37), Sean McGraynor for Cruise (44), Conor Kenny (Blessington) for Nolan (46), Caolan McGorman (Blessington) for Shannon (57), Liam Kinsella for Gilligan (60).
Referee - Fergal Smyth (Offaly). Tweet
