Minors pipped in double bid
November 30, 2009they had achieved earlier victories over Offaly and Westmeath at the same venue.
With Curraha clubman and Kildare native Pat Coyle once again at the helm, the Royal County under-18s provided some superb entertainment, particularly in the opening defence of their title when they got the better of Offaly after extra-time in a thrilling confrontation which was hardly bettered by any match in the entire championship.
Meath haven't won an All-Ireland title in the minor grade since 1992 and the efforts of last year's team to reach the September decider were thwarted when Tyrone got the better of them in the semi-final. But it was still a memorable campaign for all concerned as they first reached the Ulster MFL final unbeaten, only to lose to the Tyrone lads after a replay, and later claimed the Leinster title with a final victory over Offaly.
This year, the Ulster League didn't provide such a morale-boosting steppingstone to the championship and of the four matches Meath played in that competition before the big opener against Offaly, their only victory was achieved first time out against Cavan at Breffni Park when they won by 3-8 to 0-12.
That was followed by defeats against Armagh (1-7 to 2-15) at Cullyhanna, Down (1-10 to 2-10) at Newry and Monaghan (1-8 to 1-12) at Ballybay a week before the championship opener. For the majority of those games Coyle and his selectors had to plan without the Ashbourne CS players who enjoyed such a progressive run in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools' SFC.
The Meath panel included a fair sprinkling of players from last year's squad, but the Ulster League was used to try out many new faces and despite suffering so many defeats hopes were high of another good provincial campaign, especially with the Ashbourne players returning.
Na Fianna forward Harrison Silke was a member of the 2008 panel, but endured a tough time with injuries, and it was encouraging to see him perform so well in that Ulster League opener against Cavan when he contributed 1-2. By the time it came to play Offaly in the championship, his presence proved to be invaluable as he contributed six points from play.
Meath were slow to find their feet in this thrilling contest and Offaly were on top in the opening quarter when they ruined much of their impressive approach play with poor finishing. The Royal County gradually got moving and pushed into a 0-6 to 0-2 interval lead, before they again endured a difficult spell in the second half when they struggled at midfield.
The defence was found wanting when Mark Young goaled for Offaly at the end of the third quarter to give them a huge boost and points from Michael Brazil and Graham Guilfoyle helped them edge ahead near the finish. Meath were crying out for the sort of inspiration Silke had shown throughout normal time and he provided it at the vital moment when he fired over a magnificent equaliser to force extra-time (0-11 to 1-8).
Both teams had lost a player before the end of normal time when Meath's Ciaran Lenehan and Offaly's Anton Sullivan were sent off in separate incidents.
Meath had got out of jail, but there was no denying their supremacy during the additional time when points from Damien Carroll (two), Bryan Menton, Ailbhe Mahon, Emmet Boyle, Shane Gillespie and impressive substitute Padraig McKeever helped them to a 0-18 to 1-11 victory. Silke didn't add to his tally in extra-time, but without him there wouldn't have been that additional 20 minutes for Meath to rescue their ambitions.
Liam Tolan was another key forward for Meath, scoring three valuable points, while goalkeeper Conor McHugh produced a fine save from John Crombie in extra-time.
Meath matched their 18-point haul in the quarter-final against Westmeath, but this time it was achieved without extra-time and in comprehensive fashion. Apart from the early stages the outcome rarely looked in doubt and it finished 0-18 to 0-9.
Westmeath, who had beaten Carlow in the first round, looked capable of troubling their neighbours when they moved into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter, but Meath steadily assumed control to lead by 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval after playing against the wind and when the midlanders had midfielder John Heslin sent off early in the second period they capitulated.
Ballinabrackey's Damien Carroll was a star performer for Meath and rowed in with four points (two frees), while he received very effective support from midfield partner Ailbhe Mahon once the pair had settled into the game.
Ger Egan was a strong influence for Westmeath as they enjoyed their most productive spell early on and opened up that advantage. But the Meath full-back line of Gavin Kennedy, Ciaran Lenehan and David Coyle was solid during this spell and the immensely talented Bryan Menton went through some outstanding work at centre-back.
Mark McCormack and Emmet Boyle played well in the wing-back positions and Boyle got forward to contribute two points. All six starting forwards scored for Meath, including three points each for Padraig McKeever and Conor Devereux. Sean Tobin was another to show up well in attack, Devereux excelled as the extra man after Heslin's dismissal and goalkeeper McHugh brought off another fine save in this match, from Jason Cully at the three-quarter stage.
With the exams over, it was back to Pairc Tailteann for a semi-final meeting with Kildare who had scored earlier runaway wins over Wicklow and Wexford. And that's where Meath's hopes of a second successive Leinster title ended. It was hardly of much consolation to the players that they were part of another superb game, at the end of which they trailed by the minimum, 0-10 to 1-8.
The Meath lads put in a massive effort, but the concession of the game's only goal following a Ciaran Lenehan error in the second half proved very costly. A below par showing from midfielder Damien Carroll was another factor, but Kildare deserve credit for their fine recovery after they fell five points adrift.
Meath looked highly impressive in the early stages as points from Sean Tobin (two), Harrison Silke and Padraig McKeever gave them a 0-4 to 0-0 advantage after nine minutes, but they then endured an 11-minute barren spell which enabled Kildare to recover. Meath's only other score of this period was Tobin's third point and they led by 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval.
Paul Cribben and Darrock Mulhall scored the Kildare points, but they might well have been level by half-time as Mulhall was narrowly wide from a penalty. That said, Devereux and Carroll (free) also missed chances for Meath that they would have been expected to take.
Meath made a very positive opening to the second period and looked to be heading for the final when they pushed ahead by 0-8 to 0-3 thanks to two points from Mark O'Sullivan and another from a Tobin free. But they failed to maintain the momentum and didn't hit the target for 20 minutes as Mulhall turned in a superb performance for Kildare.
He contributed 1-2 as they battled back and with Fogarty adding a point the Lilywhites were ahead for the first time at 1-6 to 0-8. Mulhall increased the lead with another point and with the game slipping out of their grasp Meath needed a response. They got it with a point from Mahon, but Mulhall was inspired and pushed Kildare two clear again at 1-8 to 0-9.
Boyle reduced the deficit to the minimum and Meath looked capable of rescuing the situation when Devereux took a great pass from Silke. But he failed to hit the target and the dream of a big day out in Croke Park was over.
Manager Pat Coyle described the defeat as "very disappointing" as he looked back on a campaign that started with a less than satisfactory build-up and three defeats from four outings in the Ulster League.
"I suppose we had one or two problems this year that we didn't have last year," he said. "Because of the new rule from Croke Park we didn't get started until March which didn't help. Ashbourne CS got to the All-Ireland final which was another hindrance to our preparations.
"We didn't have any problems like that last year. It just wasn't the same build-up as the previous year. We had seven or eight challenge games played before the start of the Ulster League in 2008. We got the Ashbourne lads in two weeks before the game against Offaly. That match was the first time we had a settled outfit.
"The Ashbourne players were a big asset to us, players like Bryan Menton, Gavin Kennedy and David Coyle. Take those three out and it represents a big loss. Then there's Liam Tolan who was also a great asset to us. He is minor again next year and this year was a great experience for him."
Sheer will to win was a vital attribute when the championship action got under way.
"That Meath team won the Gerry Reilly Tournament two years ago," Coyle added. "There is great spirit in them and they showed it against Offaly. They did it all at under-16 level and I knew it was in them. The fitness levels were there in extra-time when they were really needed.
"They really drove on in extra-time. A lot of them went through extra-time against Dublin last year, so they knew they could do it. Harry Silke was great in that game against Offaly. He is a really good footballer. He had a lot of injuries last year, but we got him right this year. That equalising point against Offaly was some score."
That success was followed by a very easy victory over Westmeath.
"Even if Westmeath hadn't had the player sent off after half-time it might not have made a difference," Coyle said. "Conor Devereux played brilliantly as the extra man. He's minor again next year, as is goalkeeper Conor McHugh. He is a really good 'keeper and made some great saves this year.
"Losing to Kildare was very disappointing. The Leinster semi-final is a huge game because if you win it you have two chances after that. We tore Kildare asunder from the start, but didn't quite maintain it. I was quietly confident at half-time. We started the second half great as well.
"But they are young lads and maybe they were thinking about Croke Park and had one eye on a Leinster final against Dublin. They started to panic a bit. An unfortunate mistake by Ciaran Lenehan led to the goal. Damien Carroll couldn't perform that day. He missed three easy frees. It just didn't work out for him. But he is a very good footballer. His fitness levels are serious.
"But it was still a game we could have won at the end. Conor Devereux had a chance. If it had been one of the more experienced lads from last year we might have won it or at least got an equaliser.
"The reality is that you can't afford to go half a game without scoring at that level. We had two lengthy spells without a score." Tweet
