AFL3: Heroic defending saved the day for Meath Hill
March 31, 2015
Meath Hill's Barry Kieran
Meath Hill 0-11 Carnaross 0-9
Meath hill won their third match on the trot in the A league with a hard fought win over a useful Carnaross team. The game was played in Meath hill in very wet and windy conditions and it was due to the excellent sod that both teams were able to play attractive football.
Playing with a strong wind the Hill were 6 pts to 5 up at half time with the lead point coming on the stroke of half time - a free by Mark Tully. Meath hill started sluggishly and were very slow to put scores on the board despite numerous chances. Carnaross were denied a goal from the penalty spot when a poorly struck shot was easily saved by Chris Yorke. This didn't appear to upset the visitors rhythm as they matched the hill point for point in that first half.
The veteran Ollie Murphy was in goals for the visitors and he dealt comfortably with anything that dropped short.
The Magee brothers and Paddy Nugent were causing problems for their immediate oponents and a 1 point lead at half time for the hosts didnt seem to be enough. But the Hill roared into the game and outscored their oponents by 5pts to 1 during the opening 20 minutes of the second half but Carnaross finished strong and laid siege to Chris Yorke`s goal from then until the final whistle blew. During that period they tacked on 3 pts but could not get the goal they need. The Meath hill square was very crowded for the last couple of injury time minutes and heroic defending saved the day.
Best for the Hill were Conor Marry and Barry Kieran.
Meath Hill: C.Yorke, S. Martin, J. Yorke, M.McCabe, C. Marry, R. Owens, M.Tully, K. Ginnitty,T. Rooney, J. Mooney, P. McGrath, B.Kieran, I. Malone, M.Tully, S. McCabe. Sub used: D.McMahon, N. Yorke
Carnaross Report
Carnaross 0-9
Meath Hill 0-11
A first-half penalty miss by Carnaross proved to be the difference as Carnaross lost their unbeaten record in the A League with a two point defeat away to Meath Hill.
Meath Hill playing with a strong breeze opened the scoring with an early point. John L McGee was then hauled down in the penalty area and the resulting penalty which was taken by Charles Brogan was well saved by the Meath Hill goalkeeper. John L McGee added two points to put Carnaross into an early lead but Meath Hill responded with three points in a row. Dermot McGee and Frank O'Reilly added points for Carnaross but Meath Hill finished the half with two points to leave the half-time score, Meath Hill 0-6, Carnaross 0-5.
After the restart it was Meath Hill who made the better start and hit four points in the first 15 minutes to increase the margin to five before John L McGee responded with a point for Carnaross. Meath Hill got the next score which also happened to be their last as Carnaross responded well and finished strongly with points from John L McGee, Peter Mullan and Cillian Comaskey. However time ran out for Carnaross as Meath Hill finished two point winners.
Carnaross: Ollie Murphy; Cian Gillic, Tomás Plunkett, Stephen Dawson; Stephen Flattery, Ian Donoghue, Peter Carpenter; Eamonn Comaskey, Charles Brogan; Pierce Fleming, Cillian Comaskey (0-1), Frank O'Reilly (0-1); John L McGee (0-5), Patrick Nugent, Dermot McGee (0-1); Subs: Colm Carpenter for Stephen Flattery; John Carpenter for Stephen Dawson; Shane Casserly for Frank O'Reilly; Peter Mullan (0-1) for Pierce Fleming;
