Meath…2-06
Down…2-06
At the outset here, it will be admitted that yours truly wasn’t match fit for today’s outing to Pairc Tailteann. Having been blessed to come through the worst of the Covid-19 unscathed and battled Celulitis for the last month, Storm Franklin had whipped up too bad a day to lock horns with. However, Boylan Talks Sport’s roving reporter was in attendance and, like many, came away from the old ground unsure what to think.
On one hand, having played well enough into the teeth of the elements, with the burgeoning Robin Clarke and Jason Scully both netting. Thus, despite going in three points in arrears – (2-03 to 2-06) hopes would been high that the home side could’ve kicked on and claimed their first win in this Allianz League campaign.
Those propagating the negative narrative – and there are an annoying amount of them – will light on the fact that they didn’t achieve the desired outcome. But that would not be a fair appraisal given the impact Storm Franklin had on proceedings. Our face in the crowd said: “The weather definitely changed at half time. At one stage in the second half, Jordan Morris went for a point but the ball went back over his head”.
The corner forward did, however, two of Meath’s three scores in the second period. With the elements proving troublesome for both sides, it was actually the home side’s defensive effort which saw them register their first point of the campaign. Yes they rode their luck a bit, Padraic Harnan making a crucial interception to deny James McCartan’s team a certain goal.
There was an even greater scare thereafter when Down’s Caolan Mooney saw his fisted effort at a winning point come back off the crossbar. But you know, these Meath players deserve a turn of fortune, finite factors have gone against them for longer than one cares to remember. The trick now will be to build on today’s effort from here.
Moreover, it would be hard to disagree with Meath trainer Colm Nally’s assessment that “People see what they want to see” when asked in a post match interview whether it was a good or bad draw.
For this observer at least, one point gained is better than two dropped. Onwards and upwards.
Meath: H. Hogan (0-2); R. Clarke (1-0), J. Muldoon, E. Harkin; C. Hickey, S. McEntee, D. Keogan; P. Harnan, E. Devine; R. Jones, T. O’Reilly, M. Costello; J. Morris (0-3), S. Walsh (0-1), J. Scully (1-0). Subs; C. O’Sullivan for Scully, E. Wallace for Devine, J. O’Connor for O’Reilly, B. McMahon for Walsh.
Referee: Noel Mooney (An Cabhan)
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