Meath… 1-15
Wexford… 1-10
It really must be like a drug. On Saturday evening, I began my 32nd consecutive season on the GAA ‘circuit’ in the familiar and most comfortable surroundings of Donaghmore/Ashbourne. Never has an O’Byrne Cup game meant so much as it did for the occupant of this seat to be in position for this one.
Officially speaking it might have been regarded as a nothing match, but apart from the fact there should be no such thing as a dead rubber as there’s always something to be gained from any match, it may as well have been an All Ireland Final for me.
No, I do not mind admitting there were a few tears shed when the evening’s work was done. Thankfully when one was safely back home in the office. Why? A thousand reasons and none at all. It was my first time attending a Meath match since the clash with Mayo in Croke Park a few years ago. Then there was the feeling of missing someone. Without whom the journey never would’ve begun.
In a strange way, and no disrespect is meant to players or mentors here, getting to the match was victory enough for the occupant of this seat. That said, any occasion during which a team can register 1-15 is never a bad evening’s work. Moreover, what was most encouraging was to see the new ‘old guard’ take control and drive things on when the need arose.
Whether that was James McEntee driving out from the half back line, Padraic Harnan and Ethan Devine working hard in midfield and Shane Walsh and Jordan Morris pulling the strings in attack.
The Nobber clubman was central to the first major happening in the contest when hitting the butt of the post with a penalty before making amends for same moments later when rifling to the net after a fluid passing move involving Robin Clarke, Cathal Hickey, Eoin Harkin and James McEntee. Thereafter, the sides traded scores for the remainder of what was a dour first half.
Though it took a smart stop from Longwood’s Harry Hogan to deny the wily Ben Brosnan, ensuring the home side held a slender 1-05 to 0-06 lead at the break, while they would start the second half a player down after wing back McEntee was the recipient of a black card late in the opening stanza.
On that score at least, the visitors were more error prone, losing two players to a black/yellow combination – equivalent to a red – and were lucky not to get at least one more after Donal Keogan was taken out off the ball in an advanced position. The dismissals and a raft of substitutions took whatever bit structure or momentum there had been in the game out of it.
However, it should be acknowledged that, during the second period, there was a marked improvement in the output from those in green and gold. With the ever-dependable James Conlon posting four points from four shots once introduced and Mat Costello and another substitute, Curraha’s Jack O’Connor, also showing up well.
A win is never a bad thing, nor was the scoring, eventually, but they will face a different class of challenge in Salthill two weeks from now.
Meath: H. Hogan; R. Clarke, D. Keogan, E. Harkin; C. Hickey, S. McEntee, J. McEntee; E. Devine, P. Harnan; M. Costello, C. O’Sullivan, S. O’Fionnagain; J. Morris, S. Walsh, T.O’Reilly. Subs; R. Ryan for Harkin, J. Conlon for Morris, J. O’Connor for O’Fionnagain, J. Muldoon for Clarke, D. McEntee for O’Reilly, N. Kane for J. McEntee, K. Curtis for O’Sullivan, D. Dixon for Costello.