Meath  1-09   Tipperary  0-05

Meath maintained their 100% record in Group D of the Leinster Minor Football League and therefore qualified for the semi-final after a 7 point winning margin against Tipperary in a cold and windy Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon. Both teams finished the match with 14 players after two separate dismissals by referee David Fedigan (Louth)

Meath lost midfielder Conor Nash to two yellow cards while Tipperarys wing forward Tommy Nolan received a straight red card for a high challenge on Wolfe Tones clubman Eanna O'Kelly Lynch. Indeed the man in the middle frustrated both sides with his over fussy approach and branded 11 yellows along with the reds with some mystifying decisions.

The Royal youngsters played against a tricky wind in the first half and were never headed after centre forward Tomas O Reilly opened their account with a free in the second minute. Paudge McGowan had a goal bound effort blocked on the line by a Tipperary defender before impressive midfielder Stephen Quirke levelled the match for the only time with a free from 30 metres. O Reilly with 4 more more frees for Meath, and Quirke with 2 similar efforts left the scoreline 0-05 to 0-03 after 25 minutes. Then came the decisive score when a full field length move ended with Clann na Gael man, Eamon O Donnchadha blasting to the net. Tipperary ended the half with Colin English registering the first point from play in the match to leave the scoreboard reading 1-05 to 0-04 at the interval.

Scores were difficult to come by in the second period and in the first 15 minutes of the half only two white flags were raised. Tomas O'Reilly scored Meaths first point from play and that was followed by a free from Stephen Quirke to keep the difference at 4 points. At the mid way mark of the half Conor Nash received his second yellow for a very innocuous challenge , but probably feeling hard done by, the Meath lads reacted in a positive manner and reeled off the last 3 scores of the game while keeping their opponents scoreless.

This was not a game that will live long in the memory. An over fussy referee, a tricky wind and some poor attempts at scores was the manner of the day, but Meath manager Denis O'Shea will be happy to get another competitive match under his belt before the first round of the Leinster Championship against Laois in Pairc Tailteann in mid-April.

Goalkeeper Jordan Browne was very commanding and assured between the posts while Sam Ogungbe, Ronan Ryan and Eanna O'Kelly Lynch were particularly noticeable in defence. While there was not much clean fielding in the middle of the park, Conor Nash and captain for the day Ronan Jones had their moments. Tomas O'Reilly continues to prove his worth from placed balls and general play in attach, while Eamon O'Donnchadha took his goal with aplomb while covering all of Pairc Tailteann. Substitute Ben Hoey scored the point of the day five minutes from the end and Paudge McGowan worked hard.

Next up for the minor footballers is a semi final in two weeks (March 14th) against Group 3 winners while their hurling counterparts start their Leinster League campaign away to Offaly next Saturday.

Meath :  Jordan Browne (St Colmcilles), Ronan Ryan (Summerhill), Daniel O'Neill (Wolfe Tones), Sam Ogungbe (Nobber), Robin Clarke (Duleek/Bellewstown), Tomas McGuinness (Rathkenny), Eanna O'Kelly Lynch (Wolfe Tones), Ronan Jones (St Peters Dunboyne), Conor Nash (Simonstown Gaels), Eamon O'Donnchadha (Clann na nGael)(1-00), Tomas O'Reilly (Wolfe Tones)(0-07, 6 frees), Ross Ryan (Summerhill), Paudge McGowan (Slane)(0-01), Shane Walsh (Dunsany), Daire Lynch (Trim).
Subs : Ben Hoey (Simonstown Gaels)(0-01) for Walsh, Adam Carey (Seneschalstown) for Clarke, Caolach Halligan (Rathkenny) for Lynch, David McEntee (St Peters Dunboyne) for O'Donnchadha

 

Tweet

Most Read Stories