2006 proved to be another year with missing answers for the Meath hurlers. In a season with too many negatives, one positive that can be taken is that Christy Ring status was preserved for another year. By Marcus Brennan In his first full season in charge Johnny Murray won't be happy with how the year panned out. Unfortunately for him he was missing some key players in many of their Christy Ring matches. Murray took over from John Hunt during last year's league campaign. Many believed Meath had a good chance this year; after all they did beat last year's Christy Ring champions Westmeath before losing their way in the competition. Meath opened their competitive campaign with a win over the students of Athlone in the quarter-final of the Kehoe Cup. The final scoreline was 0-22 to 0-13 in favour of Meath. In a game where there wasn't much goal action and entertainment Nicky Horan top scored for the Royal men with 12 points. Meath came out firing in the second half of the match after leading by two points at half-time. The students, who had many top players from Galway, had no answer for their counterparts over the 70 minutes. Meath's Kehoe Cup campaign was brought to a halt by a different group of students, as DIT knocked them out for the second year in a row. Meath had no answer for a team that was made up of players from nine different counties. On the night they never got going and although they had some solid performances from Sean White, Thomas Reilly and Martin Horan, DIT ran out comfortable six point winners. Meath opened their national league campaign with an away win over Wicklow. Despite having Captain Kevin Dowd sent off with 20 minutes remaining the visiting side battled on to win by three points. The most pleasing attribute from this game was the battling spirit they showed throughout the 70 minutes. Meath trailed by two points at half-time after an entertaining first half. Nicky Horan had Meath's first goal after a long delivery from club team mate Stephen Clynch. Wicklow increased their lead in the second half before Thomas Reilly booted a ball to the net to leave two between the team. Meath took the lead with 14 minutes left and a battling spirit and determination ensured they held out for a three point win. Meath had their second taste of victory in the national League as they overcame Carlow in Páirc Tailteann on Sunday 28 February. Meath once again had to play most of the second half with 14 men after Stephen Clynch was shown the line for an off the ball incident. They trailed 0-4 to 0-6 at half time after scores from Nicky Horan, Clynch, Ger O'Neil and David Kirby. Meath were outstanding in the second half as Kevin Dowd, Paul Donnelly and Sean White performed exceptionally. Thomas Reilly offered Nicky Horan some assistance in the scoring department as he scored two points from play in the second half. Horan although didn't have his best outing was Meath's top scorer with eight points. The final scoreline was Meath 0-13 Carlow 0-8. An away tie against Derry was Murray's next game in charge. He would have been pleased with how his side performed, particularly in the last ten minutes. A strong finish against Carlow and Wicklow was followed with a wonderful final-quarter display from the Meath men. Derry led by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break. They increased this lead to 0-12 to 0-10 after 20 minutes of play in the second half. That's when Meath took over and showed what they are capable off. The backs tightened up and didn't allow a single score while the work rate out the field was superb. A goal from man of the match Thomas Reilly started things off and was duly followed by two frees from Nicky Horan. Paul Donnelly was excellent at full back and when play went by him Stephen Quinn was superb in goals making some excellent saves and keeping Meath in front. Joey Keena and Johnny Watters were also prominent in a battling display: Meath 1-12 Derry 0-12. Meath's unbeaten run in the league came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Dublin in Pairc Tailteann. The game was played in terrible conditions and no doubt the standard of hurling followed suit. The home side was trailed by four points at the break after scores from Nicky Horan (four) and Joey Keena. They never got into the game and although there was only four points between the two sides at the finish this was down to the 13 wides the Metropolitans hit on the day. Meath had to rely on the free-taking of Nicky Horan once again for most of their scores as he hit six of their nine scores. Roscommon was the final side in Meath's group. The Royal County was already through to the knockout stages, but this didn't stop them from running out convincing winners. The first half was a close knit affair with Meath ahead by the minimum of margins at half-time. Meath had a new midfield pairing of Sean Heavey and Brian Perry. The Roscommon men struggled to cope with Thomas Reilly, as he scored six points from play. With 12 minutes remaining two points separated the two teams. A goal line clearance from Paul Donnelly stopped Roscommon short of a goal. Padraig Coone had Meath's first goal after a short pass from Nicky Horan while Gary Kirby finished of the game with a clinical finish that left the final score line 2-17 to 0-11. Meath went in to the quarter-final as strong favourites against a Mayo side that aren't known for their hurling exploits. To say Meath let their opponents off the hook is an understatement. Mayo sent over a late score to bring the game to extra- time and repeated that feet with a leveller that earned them a replay. With 63 minutes gone on the clock Nicky Horan scored his fourth point of the game that left Meath up by 1-14 to 0-11. That comfortable lead soon vanished, as Meath took their foot off the pedal and allowed their opponents back in to the match. Mayo introduced Paul McConn who changed the game on his own scoring three goals. Both teams traded scores in extra time as the extra 20 minutes failed to seperate the two. Nicky Horan finished with 1-4 to his name and was aided by James Watters who had a fine performance. The replay was very disappointing for Johnny Murray and his charges. Meath got off to a perfect start. They registered 1-4 on the scoreboard before Mayo's first point of the match, which came in the 28th minute. Meath had a number of disappointing wides in the first half and only led by three at half time. Mayo came out like a new team in the second half and quickly opened up their opponents with some nice moves. Meath had no answer for the hurling played by Mayo and tamely faltered at the challenge of a comeback. Only David Donnelly and Martin Horan offered any resistance as Meath conceded 12 points in a row on the restart before Nicky Horan (goal) and Sean Heavey (point) posted consolation scores near the end. The final score line was Mayo 1-14 Meath 2-6. In the Christy Ring Cup competition Meath where drawn in the group of death as they where drawn alongside Lomdon, Antrim, Down and Roscommon. Goals win games and the concession of three goals before and after half-time proved to be Meath's undoing in their first round Christy Ring match. Ruislip was the venue for the game with London. In blistering heat the Royal County never lived up to their potential on the day and lost by a score line of 3-15 to 0-20. Meath began well and Thomas Reilly, who finished with a personal tally of 0-11, sent over two frees to give his side the early initiative. London hit back and both teams matched each other for scores right up until five minutes before the break. London hit Meath for two goals in the lead up to half-time. Both goals coming from a swift counter attack after a Meath player lost possession in the middle of the field. The home side led by 2-7 to 1-6 at half-time. The visitors where rocked again as five minutes after the restart London had their third goal of the match leaving nine points between the teams. Although Meath never recovered from the goals they put up a determined comeback with points coming from Kevin Dowd, Stephen Clynch, Joey Keena and Reilly. Paul Gannon, Stephen Quinn and Keena put in superb effort in what was a disappointing result for Meath hurling. Meath's uphill task of beating Antrim in the second round of the Christy Ring Cup wasn't helped by their growing list of casualties through injuries. Important players like Paul Gannon and Brian Perry joined the ever so important Nicky Horan on the injury list. Antrim's participation in the competition has been much criticised and it was easy to see why as they looked to be at a better standard than opponents Meath on June 24. Although Murray's charges put up a good fight it was easy to see who was going to win this bout from early on. Both teams had two men sent off as Kevin Dowd and Sean White received straight red cards for the Royal County. Antrim had their first of three goals within the first five minutes after Liam Watson hit the back of the net from a free. A brace of points from Thomas Reilly reduced the deficit to a single score only for Antrim to raise their game again. On 19 minutes they had their second goal from a rebounded shot after Meath goalkeeper produced a smart double save. Stephen Clynch had Meath's last score of the half to leave six points between the two teams at half-time. Although the likes of Mickey Cole, Joey Keena and Stephen Clynch tried their hardest in the second half they couldn't stop their northern opponents of winning their second game in a row in the competition on a scoreline of Meath 0-13 Antrim 3-12. Relegation from the Christy Ring Cup became more of a reality after Meath suffered their third defeat in a row at the hands of Down in McKenna Park. Unfortunately Johnny Murray had a depleted squad again as he was missing Nicky Horan, Kevin Dowd, Tony Fox and Ger O'Neill. Sub goalkeeper Niall Hackett was played at centre forward and had a fine outing posting four points.One telling statistic was that Meath failed to raise the green flag for the third game in succession. Meath trailed by 1-8 to 0-6 at half time after scores from Niall Hackett, Michael Cole, Kevin Fagan, Enda Keogh and Sean Heavey. Meath tried their best in the second half to drag themselves back into it, with Hackett leading the way with a brace of points after half time. Mickey Cole and Kevin Fagan finished up with two points apiece, and the best efforts of David Donnelly and Stephen Clynch weren't enough to stop the Royal County going down by ten points. Meath got their first win of the competition in their last game against Roscommon, thus avoiding a relegation playoff with Kerry. In a vastly improved display from the Royal men they got off to a flying start and never relinquished the lead throughout. A goal in the opening ten minutes from Kevin Fagan and points from Thomas Reilly, John Watters and Padraig Coone left Meath up by 1-12 to 0-2 at half time. The men in green and gold didn't let up in the second half and a goal from Coone after 20 minutes of play sent them well on their way to victory. Roscommon put a bit of respectability in the scoreboard by scoring 2-6 in the second half to leave the final score line Meath 2-21 Roscommon 2-8. Participation in the Christy Ring Cup was preserved for another season. Meath will be hopeful the year ahead is more fruitful than the one gone by. Tweet

Most Read Stories