Leinster MFC: Meath prevail in a thriller
July 05, 2008
Meath's Mark Battersby
A trademark piece of escapology in the final quarter of a thrilling ESB Leinster MFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon saw Meath wriggle from the clutches of a strong Longford side and through to a final meeting with either Wexford or Offaly.
Meath 3-10
Longford 2-9
It was fitting way to mark the 17th anniversary of one of the county's great Houdini Acts, the fourth game of the Leinster SFC first round saga with Dublin in 1991, and just as in that memorable day, Meath looked a beaten docket midway through the second-half of this rip-roaring tie.
Goals from Mark Battersby and Damien Carroll saw Meath outscore the midlanders by 2-4 to 0-1 in the final quarter.
The Longford contingent can be bitterly disappointed in the manner in which they conceded the match-winning goal in the 55th minute. A late tackle on Meath's Darragh Smyth on his own 45-metre line resulted in a free close to the hospital end.
Substitute Harrison Silke wasted no time in finding Carroll in space and the Ballinabrackey man calmly slotted to the Longford net and Meath were 3-8 to 2-9 in front.
Michael Newman and Carroll posted the insurance scores in the remaining minutes of a pulsating encounter played in dry but blustery conditions.
With midfielder Padraig Gill and roving full-forward Michael Quinn pulling the strings, Longford looked a good bet for the county's first provincial final appearance in this grade since 2002, when leading by 2-8 to 1-6 after 45 minutes, despite playing against a strong breeze blowing from the town goal.
In the third quarter, Meath didn't even manage a shot at goal. A pointed free by Mark Collins opened Pat Coyle's charges' second-half account as the clock ticked into the 46th minute.
Wing-back Donncha Tobin played a central role in the move that to Battersby's second goal with Carroll (whose move from midfield to the '40' was central to Meath's recovery) and substitute Sean Dalton also involved.
A pointed free from Quinn in the 54th minute restored Longford's advantage, 2-9 to 2-8, before that mature piece of opportunism turned the tide Meath's way.
Battersby opened the scoring from a free less than a minute in but when Michael Newman lost possession in midfield, Gill pushed forward unchallenged through centre of the Meath defence before finding the net with a low drive.
David Ryan won a throw-up and placed Smyth for a point.
A mistake by Longford corner-back Paul Devine sent Battersby away and instead of passing to an unmarked team mate he lashed the leather to the net at the town end and Meath led by 1-2 to 1-0 six minutes in.
The home side led by 1-4 to 1-2 heading into the second-quarter but with Quinn moving out from his starting full-forward berth and Gilll and Kevin Diffley boosing midfield matters, Longford were back in front, 1-6 to 1-5, in the 24th minute when Patrick Mullooly got their first score from a free.
A Battersby point from play levelled matters for the third time in the half and it was 1-6 each at the break. However, Jake Regan passed up a gilted edged chance of giving Meath an interval advantage when his close range free struck an upright in the last action of the half.
Still Meath looked to be in the box seat when going in at the break on level terms with the prospect of wind advantage to come. Within five minutes of the restart Gerry Lynn's side struck 1-2 with Gill pointing twice (the latter effort being one of the highlights of the hour) while playing a central role in J. J. Matthews goal.
Meath - Padraig Curran; Stephen O'Brien, Sean Curran, Ciaran Lenehan; William Carry, Tommy Johnson (C), Donncha Tobin; David Ryan, Damien Carroll (1-2); Daragh Smyth (0-1), Michael Newman (0-1), Mark Collins (0-3, 2 fs); Jake Regan (0-1, f), Andrew Tormey, Mark Battersby (2-2, 0-1 f). Subs - Sean Dalton for Regan (ht), Harrison Silke for Ryan (37), Enda Nulty for O'Brien (48), John Kelly for Tobin (57), Brian McGrane for Carry (60).
Longford - Aiden Gray; Paul Devine, Fergal Battrim, Aaron Quinn; Ruairi Barrins, Leon Doherty, Colm P Smith; Padraig Gill (1-3), Kevin Diffley; J ames Carroll (0-1), Patrick Mullooly (0-2, 1 f), Shane Mahon; J. J. Matthews (1-1), Michael Quinn (0-2, 1f), Colm E Smith. Subs - Fergal Reilly for Colm P. Smith (37), Conan Brady for Devine (49), Robert Kennedy for Colm E Smith, Conor Keegan for Mahon.
Referee - Paul Daly (Westmeath)
Most Read Stories