Leinster MFC: Late Ryan strike clinches title for Meath
July 20, 2008
Meath captain Tommy Johnson raises the Leinster MFC Cup
Meath 1-14
Offaly 2-10
After the senior side's dismal display against in Limerick on Saturday, the Meath contingent could salvage something from the weekend as the minors captured a Leinster title on Sunday at Croke Park.
A point from substitute David Ryan a minute into the added on time proved the difference as the Royal County captured their tenth provincial title in the grade in a enthralling contest.
Meath flew out of the traps from the start to take a 0-7 to 0-3 lead before Patrick Rigney was on the rebound of Graham Guilfoyle's effort to blast past 'keeper Padraig Curran into the Royals net, cutting the deficit to one.
The young Faithful men would then take the lead soon after through more opportunism from their centre-forward after Donnacha Tobin's block off Keith Lawlor was met by Rigney who netted his second goal in quick succession.
Bernard Allen and Mark Collins both traded points thereafter but Michael Newman's white flag made sure that Meath would go in at the break just trailing by the minimum.
A goal from Daragh Smyth early on in the restart saw the Royals regain the lead and make pathway for Paddy Gilsenan, Collins and Newman to all point over and distance Offaly by five.
The Faithful youngsters came back strong though with an Anton Sullivan point finishing off a five-point haul to bring them level heading towards the full-time whistle. However, their plans of for a comeback were in tatters when Ryan got forward to fire over the winner in injury-time.
Meath - P Curran; S O'Brien, C Lenehan, S Curran; W Carry (0-1), T Johnston, D Tobin; J Owens, D Carroll (0-1); D Smyth (1-1), M Newman (0-2), M Collins (0-4); A Tormey (0-1), H Silke, M Battersby (0-2). Subs: P Gilsenan (0-1) for H Silke, E Nulty for W Carry, S Dalton for M Collins, D Ryan (0-1) for J Owens.
Offaly - S Nally; L Dunning, J Maloney, D Ryan; D Kelly, B Geraghty, A Murphy; B O'Connor (0-1), N Graham (0-1); K Lawlor (0-1), P Rigney (2-0), G Guilfoyle (0-1); B Allen (0-1), A Sullivan (0-2), R Allen (0-2). Subs: M Mangan for K Lawlor, R Knight (0-1) for B Allen.
Referee: G McCormack (Dublin)
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