Both Meath's matches in the 2011 Leinster U21 FC went to extra time. In the first round at Pairc Tailteann, the Royals dethroned arch rivals and defending All-Ireland champions Dublin with a spirited display. But the wheels came off the wagon a fortnight later when Liam Harnan's charges were stunned by a decent Longford outfit at the same venue. Losing a home championship game against the midlanders was certainly not in the script and it would be no exaggeration to say the abrupt exit represented a bitter disappointment.

It was announced in December '10 that Liam Harnan would manage the Meath U21s in 2011, combining the role with that of senior intercounty selector. Having led Skryne to the county SFC, the Moynalvey man seemed like an obvious successor to Colm O'Rourke and great things were expected from the Royals in the U21 competition as this was the same crop that had gleaned the Leinster MFC three years earlier. Having lost to Westmeath in the first round in 2010, they had a point to prove…

Meath hit the ground running when defeating Dublin by 0-21 to 0-17 AET in the first round at Navan on Wednesday evening, February 23rd. Dublin started with a strong team, including six of the previous year's All-Ireland final winning side, many of whom were involved with the Dubs' seniors in the opening rounds of the league. But Meath stayed with them all the way and then made a powerful surge in extra time to claim a dramatic and thoroughly-deserved victory.

The hosts struck the first four points - two from the in-form Kilmainham clubman Michael Newman as well as scores from Mark Battersby and Bryan Menton - and they were relieved when Dublin were unfortunately denied a goal in the tenth minute as the referee opted not to give the benefit of an advantage. A Newman free made it 0-5 to 0-3 after Dublin had reeled off three on the trot. Paddy Gilsenan and Darragh Smyth floated over a brace each and Newman added another free before the short whistle. It was 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval and the lead could have been greater had not Smyth's goal effort flown inches over the bar. Meath only recorded one wide in the first half!
The Metropolitans looked like a different team upon the restart and - buoyed by Dean Rock's accuracy from frees - they led by two, 0-14 to 0-12, with a minute left. But injury-time points from substitute Andrew Tormey and top scorer Newman (with a brilliant, pressure free) took the game to extra time.

Smyth's fourth point and others from Sean Dalton, centre back Ciaran Lenehan and Shane Gillespie had the winners two ahead at the interval (0-18 to 0-16) and - with Smyth, Willie Carey and Dalton adding further scores - there was no denying Meath as they repeated their win over the same opposition at minor level three years earlier.

With all four of Meath's substitutes during normal time getting on the scoresheet, their strength in depth on the day was particularly impressive. Their general fitness levels also caught the eye as they got stronger towards the end, despite Dublin's rallying recovery in the second period of normal time - Meath scored nine of the last twelve points!
The successful Meath team included four players who had featured already for the Royal County seniors in 2011: half back pair Donal Keoghan and Ciaran Lenehan, Brian Menton at midfield and team captain Paddy Gilsenan at left half forward.

After the match, the winning manager praised the team's never-say-die qualities: "I thought we lost a bit of focus in the second half, but with two or three minutes left and two points down, we kicked two scores to draw the game instead of making rash decisions and going for goal. I think mentally we went out [for extra time] far stronger. We went out and we weren't going to let it go the second time."

Meath - 2011 Leinster U21 FC V Dublin: Conor McHugh (Oldcastle); Cian McPartland (Oldcastle), Sean Curran (Donaghmore / Ashbourne), Willie Ryan (Summerhill); Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), Ciaran Lenehan (Skryne, 0-1), Mark O'Sullivan (Moynalvey); Bryan Menton (Donaghmore / Ashbourne, 0-1), Jamie Owens (Nobber); Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle, 0-2), Darragh Smyth (Navan O'Mahonys, 0-4), David Larkin (Summerhill); Mark Battersby (Skryne, 0-1), Niall Murphy (Dunshaughlin), Michael Newman (Kilmainham, 0-7). Subs: Sean Dalton (Summerhill, 0-2) for Larkin (39); Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore / Ashbourne, 0-1) for Murphy (44); Shane Gillespie (Navan O'Mahonys, 0-1) for Battersby (54); Willie Carry (Drumbaragh, 0-1) for Owens (54). Extra time subs: Eoin Murray (Na Fianna) for Gilsenan, Nicky Judge (Ballinabrackey) for Smyth, Sean Tobin (Simonstown Gaels) for Menton.

Meath suffered a major blow when attacking talisman Mickey Newman sustained an injury lining out for Kilmainham against Trim in the ACFL Division Four final replay. The injury ruled him out of the quarter-final clash with Longford and many contend that Meath could have beaten the midlanders with Newman in their team. But Liam Harnan had a more-than-capable replacement in Donaghmore /Ashbourne attacker Andrew Tormey, who'd caught the eye after coming off the bench against Dublin.

Apart from that one change, Meath went with the same XV that had downed Dublin's flag and they started as red-hot favourites, particularly with the match being played in Navan. However, there were murmurings that Longford were a more-than-decent combination and so it proved as the visitors deservedly prevailed by 0-17 to 2-9 after extra time on Wednesday, March 9th.

Meath were on course for the semi-finals when leading by 1-8 to 0-10 with time almost up but Longford struck a late leveller to send the match into extra time. It was all Longford thereafter and, despite Tormey's converted penalty, the Royals couldn't get a foothold.
The losers were fortunate to be only five adrift at the break in normal time. A fortuitous goal from Mark Battersby was their only score of that opening half-hour, while the determined midlanders clipped over eight fine scores. The visitors also chalked up nine first-half wides.

The conditions favoured the hosts in the second half and a flurry of Tormey frees as well as scores from Ciaran Lenehan and Darragh Smith saw them draw level before Tormey drilled over the lead point from another placed ball. But Longford forced the equaliser and took the bull by the horns thereafter. Lenehen was one of two players who picked up straight red cards in extra time as Meath's bid for provincial glory came to a premature end.

Disappointed Meath boss Harnan was making no excuses after the final whistle: "The better team won on the night. I have no arguments with the result. The scoreboard doesn't lie. We weren't as fluent as we were against Dublin. It wasn't a case that there was less effort or commitment. I was happy with the commitment but sometimes you get games like that; it just doesn't work out for you.

"Longford were good, but we weren't surprised by that. We knew they were good. Maybe we didn't perform to our best and we just came up short in the end. It's a huge disappointment to beat Dublin and then to lose in the next round. I'm happy with the panel of players - they prepared as best they could for the game. There is a good team spirit; we just didn't win."

Meath - 2011 Leinster U21 FC V Longford: Conor McHugh (Oldcastle); Cian McPartland (Oldcastle), Sean Curran (Donaghmore / Ashbourne), Willie Ryan (Summerhill); Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), Ciaran Lenehan (Skryne, 0-1), Mark O'Sullivan (Moynalvey, 0-1); Jamie Owens (Nobber), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore / Ashbourne); Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle, 0-1), Darragh Smyth (Navan O'Mahonys, 0-1), David Larkin (Summerhill); Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore / Ashbourne, 1-4), Niall Murphy (Dunshaughlin), Mark Battersby (Skryne, 1-0). Subs: Sean Dalton (Summerhill, 0-1) for Larkin (40), Shane Gillespie for Owens (Navan O'Mahonys, 44), Willie Carry (Drumbaragh) for Murphy (52), Conor Deveraux (Dunshaughlin) for Battersby (56). Extra time sub: Sean Tobin (Simonstown Gaels) for Smyth. Tweet

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