MFC: North Meath Gaels through to semi-finals
October 18, 2014
North Meath Gaels 4-14
Walterstown 2-9
North Meath progressed to the semi-final of the MFC Division 3 for the second year running with an easier than expected win over Walterstown. When the sides met in the League back in February North Meath won with a late goal but this time round the issuse was settled far earlier in the game.
Two early goals rocked Walterstown as Paul Carolan and Ryan Owens netted and it looked like Owens was in for a second goal soon after but the referee blew for a free when their was a clear advantage on.Anyway Daniel Byrne pointed the free.
Walterstown steadily got back into the game and when Brian OConnell found the net the sides were level 2-1 to 1-4. 3 North Meath points gave them the advantage as Owens, Byrne (2) pointed but a 2nd Walterstown goal had the sides level again. Two late points (Owens and a Byrne free) gave the home side a 2 point half time lead 2-6 to 2-4 but with the sizable wind favouring Walterstown for the 2nd half the game looked to be their's for the winning.
Not so as a 3rd quarter blitz in which they pointed 5 times before Walterstown pulled 2 points back to leave it 2-11 to 2-6 with 15 minutes to go. The sides swapped points but then two quick fire Cathal Dunne goals and 2 more Byrne points left it double scores 4-14 to 2-7 and while Walterstown tagged on 2 late points North Meath were easy winners in the end.
North Meath Gaels; Dominic Yorke; Conor Marry, Graham Boylan; Martin Shields, Colm McEvoy, Matthew Carolan; Ryan Owens (1-2), Cathal Bennet; Robert McEntaggert (0-1), James Mooney, Cathal Dunne (2-0); Paul Carolan (1-0), Daniel Byrne (0-11). Sub Kieran Slavin for Dunne
Walterstown faced a long trip to Meath Hill for their Minor Div3 Quarter-Final Championship clash v North Meath Gaels on Friday night.
Both teams had to contend with very heavy wind and rain during this match in which the combination side of North Meath Gaels came out on top.
Walterstown got the first score of the match through B.O'Connell, however North Meath Gaels responded by scoring 2-01 to race into an early 6 point lead. Walterstown were soon level with V.Murphy scoring 1-01, before B.O'Connell and C.Cullen added a point each to leave the score North Meath Gaels 2-01 v Walterston 1-04 after 19 minutes.
North Meath Gaels again went into the lead scoring the next 3 points of the match before Walterstown leveled through a B.O'Connell goal, North Meath Gaels finished the half with 2 further points to leave the Half Time Score - North Meath Gaels 2-06 v Walterstown 2-04.
North Meath Gaels started the second half the strongest scoring 3 early pints to gain a 5 point lead, V.Murphy reduced the deficit to 4 points. North Meath Gaels once again responded by scoring the next 2 points to gain a 6 point lead, the blacks were only able to reduce the deficit to 5 points before North Meath Gaels went had a crucial spell of dominance scoring 2-01 to gain a 12 point lead and effectively end Walterstown's chances of getting back into the game.
Walterstown finished the last 10 minutes scoring 3 further points however goals were needed and North Meath Gaels finished with a 10 point win.
Walterstown team: K.McHale, S.Crowley, A.Dunphy, L.Irwin, C.Cullen, A.Moran, M.Foy, K.Ali, P.McCabe, N.Freeman, J.Donnellan, B.O'Connnell, V.Murphy. Subs: C.O'Dowd for N.Freeman, P.Allen for K.Ali, P.Donnellan for A.Moran, S.Irwin for P.McCabe
Scorers: B.O'Connell 1-4 V.Murphy 1-4, C.Cullen 0-1
