Despite being well beaten in their All-Ireland semi-final clash with Tyrone, Meath's minor football team had a rewarding 2008 with the Leinster title triumph being the second in three years and the tenth in all for the Royal County. By Noel Coogan Pat Coyle's side had a very busy few months, playing no fewer than 13 matches, seven in the Ulster League and six in the championship. They won nine, drew two and the two defeats were at the hands of Tyrone, who also got the better of them in the replayed northern decider. The manager from Curraha and his assistants, Martin Blake, Richie Cahill and James Battersby, started their efforts to find the best panel back in the winter and before the Leinster final Coyle insisted that they had a 30-man panel rather than a 15-man team. Meath scored wins over Cavan, Armagh, Dublin and Monaghan in their Ulster League group and were held to a draw by Down. Both finals were played at Cavan's Breffni Park and the first of them was on a Thursday night in April under lights when extra time failed to separate the sides as it finished Tyrone 1-16, Meath 2-13. Boosted by goals from Paddy Gilsenan and Darragh Smyth, Meath led by 2-8 to 0-8 after 38 minutes, Diarmaid McNulty punched to the to help get Tyrone back on level terms before Mark Collins regained the lead for Meath from a free. Conor O'Neill sent the tie to extra-time during which both sides added four points each. The replay was on a Saturday in mid-May with a noon start and Tyrone won by 1-10 to 0-11 after being ahead by 1-5 to 0-7 at the halfway stage. Kyle Coney netted the goal on 20 minutes after the sides were on level terms three times. Mark Battersby levelled from a free at the start of the second period before points from Damien Carroll and Mark Collins put Meath two to the good. But in the last 20 minutes plus Tyrone outscored the Leinster side by five points to one. That game took place six days after a thrilling championship victory over Dublin at Parnell Park and it was felt that the win over the young Dubs may have taken its toll on the Meath lads. Although disappointed to have missed out on the win, Pat Coyle felt his charges had again given great account of themselves. Classy centre forward Michael Newman had a health scare after being forced to retire in the second half, having felt unwell. However, thankfully the Kilmainham lad recovered well to play a big part in the provincial success. That campaign began with a 1-14 to 1-9 victory over Louth at Pairc Tailteann on the first Saturday of April, the game acting as curtain-raiser to the Meath versus Armagh National League clash. Throughout the year the Meath side had a tendency to fade out of games for spells and that initially showed in the tussle with the Wee County lads. The home side led by 0-10 to 0-4 at the break and in the first minute after the restart the advantage was significantly increased when Andrew Tormey fisted to the net. Points from Mark Battersby (two frees) and Jamie Owens left the board reading 1-12 to 0-5. Meath had done more than enough but they had full back Ciaran Lenehan sent off on receipt of a straight red card on 49 minutes and Louth, aided by a penalty goal scored by Kevin Rogers, battled back to halve the deficit. The fact that former Royal County midfield hero Gerry McEntee was in charge of the young Dubs added extra spice to the Parnell Park clash five weeks later. Coyle's charges tasted their second helping of extra-time before advancing on 0-14 to 0-10 scoreline. The sides were level four times before Meath led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the first break and Dublin had edged into a 0-7 to 0-6 lead before David Ryan was sent off on after picking up a second yellow card 10 minutes into the second half. It did not look good for Meath at that stage as their opponents were dominating. However, the visitors raised their game when reduced to 14 players after points from Dean Rock (free) and Gary Sweeney left Dublin leading by 0-9 to 0-6. Meath showed their mettle and with Michael Newman kicking a wonder point from a sideline ball, Mark Collins slotting over a free and Mark Battersby levelling following a pass from Paddy Gilsenan, it was 0-9 each at the end of the hour. Jake Regan, who had been replaced, came back on to bring Meath back to their full numerical strength for extra-time and they were well on top during the additional 20 minutes, outscoring the city lads by five points to one. A converted free by their top scorer Darragh Stapleton was all Gerry McEntee's charges could add as Collins (free and play), Sean Dalton and Gilsenan raised further white flags to send Meath comfortably through to a Leinster semi-final with Longford. Although many would not have expected it, Longford put up stronger opposition than Dublin and on the first Saturday of July in Pairc Tailteann the Midlanders should have clinched a provincial final place. The first half was closely contested and after goals from Padraig Gill and Mark Battersby in the early stages, the sides were on level terms (1-6 each) at the break. But Meath were having problems at centrefield and in the middle of their defence and boosted by a goal from J. J. Matthews, the lads in blue and gold led by 2-8 to 1-6 five minutes into the second period. Such was their dominance, that the lead should have been increased. Meath were very much on the ropes but they picked themselves up with Battersby's second goal following a string of passes bringing them to within a point before Damien Carroll levelled with nine minutes to go. Longford regained the advantage before Carroll fired to the net and further points from Michael Newman and Carroll earned the home side a 3-10 to 2-9 win. However, as supporters of the teams left the ground, Meath people were wondering how their team managed to dig themselves out of such a deep hole while Longford folk reflected on how the final place was given away. In the Leinster final in which Offaly were defeated by 1-14 to 2-10 Meath again had a dormant spell in the last quarter as the Faithful lads wiped out a deficit of five points before substitute David Ryan proved a hero with a winning point on the hour mark. After going into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead, Meath were stunned by goals after 21 and 24 minutes with centre forward Patrick Rigney netting both. The Royal County side recovered with points from Mark Collins (free) and Michael Newman and the scores at the break were 2-4 to 0-9. Offaly could have had a third goal early in the second half when the Meath defence was again exposed but the Royal netminder Padraig Curran, who had a very good afternoon, forced Keith Lawlor wide and the finish went outside the upright. Meath responded with points from Collins (play and free) and lively substitute Paddy Gilsenan before Darragh Smyth finished to the net following a Collins free. It was 1-13 to 2-5 after 44 minutes and the leaders appeared to have one hand on the cup. However, it was not all over and Offaly stormed back with five points. Keeper Curran did well to tip the fifth point, struck by Anton Sullivan, over the bar. After a close-in free by Mark Battersby, who was barracked by Dublin 'supporters' on Hill 16, fell short fell, the ball was recycled out to Ryan who struck the winning point. Offaly had a late late chance to save the tie but a free by Brian Connor was confidently caught by Padraig Curran. With the Leinster minor triumph coming the day after the Meath seniors flopped in Limerick, it was a very welcome success and Pat Coyle did what his namesake Colm failed to achieve in his two-year stint by leading his troops to collect a trophy on the Hogan Stand with Tommy Johnson the recipient of the cup. Tipperary, who had held Kerry to level scoring in the Munster final before losing the replay, provided the quarter-final opposition at Portlaoise and Meath advanced to the last four with a 2-9 to 0-10 victory. The Leinster champions got off to a flying start with Michael Newman netting a penalty kick awarded for a foul on himself immediately after the start and Andrew Collins punched in the second goal on 21 minutes. It was 2-4 to 0-4 at the break and Meath kept comfortably ahead in the second half. On the same afternoon championship favourites Tyrone had seven points to spare over Roscommon in Longford and they increased that to 11 with a facile 1-21 to 2-7 success over Meath in the second of the All-Ireland semi-finals. It could be said that apart from the opening 10 minutes and a brief spell at the start of the last quarter when netting two goals, Meath were not in the third clash between the sides in a meaningful manner. The Ulster champions had obviously 'trained on' a good bit better as they were much smarter all over the pitch and picked off a sequence of well-taken scores. Two early points from Paddy Gilsenan (free) and Mark Battersby had Meath ahead and on level terms but from then on they were mainly playing second violin. With strong midfielder Niall McKenna, son of former Red Hand stalwart Eugene, putting over three points and Conor O'Neill taking advantage of some defensive slackness to net after 27 minutes it was 1-7 to 0-5 at the halfway stage. Meath needed a strong start to the second half but instead Tyrone put over seven points in succession and Michael Newman had a penalty saved by opposing 'keeper Tim Harney. It took the Leinster champions 12 minutes to score in the second period and when Battersby slotted over a free it only raised a small cheer. There was still 11 points between the sides and then came the two with Damien Carroll doing very well to get a shot into the left corner of the net after having an initial attempt blocked. Then a spectacular drop kick by Darragh Smyth flew home and Meath were back in the game. The deficit could have been pared to two points as after those goals Carroll shot wide. But Tyrone were the better team by a good bit and with Sydney-bound Kyle Coney leading the way with seven points in the second half, they soon regained the initiative to tag on 0-7 to 0-1. While Battersby was the losers' only point scorer from play, Tyrone had nine. But disappointing though the last lap was, the Meath minor side gave great entertainment to their supporters all year and they did well to finish up in the bronze medal position in the championship. The Meath side that contested the All-Ireland MFC semi-final was: P Curran; S O'Brian, C Lenehan, S Curran; E Nulty, T Johnston, D Tobin; J Owens, D Carroll (1-0); D Smyth (1-0), M Newman, M Collins; P Gilsenan (0-3), A Tormey, M Battersby (0-4). Subs - S Dalton for Collins, B McRain for Johnston, B Menton for Tormey, J Regan for Carroll, J Kelly for Nulty. Tweet

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