Meath…0-10
Clare…0-09
If the GAA ever ask each county to nominate their prototype for an impact sub, it is most likely Meath would look to either Mattie McCabe or Jody Devine. However, the name of James ‘Banty’ Conlon can now be added to any such ensemble.
The diminutive corner seldom fails to make an impact when pitched into battle but its doubtful he has ever kicked a more important score in green and gold than his winner three minutes into stoppage time at Cusack Park, Ennis, today.
It feels like Meath have played few if any teams as much as they have crossed swords with Colm Collins’ charges in recent seasons and there’s seldom more than a kick of the ball between the sides. Meath opened brightly here as Shane Walsh and Jordan Morris (two) pointed frees to leave the visitors three clear early on.
With forwards of the Eoin Cleary, David Tubridy and Keelan Sexton, the locals were always going to be a tough nut to crack, so it was little surprise that the home side had earned themselves parity by the interval, 0-05 apiece.
Sexton actually opened the scoring after the resumption and though Walsh brought Meath back to parity, Clare again edged two clear. This Meath team and their mentors have shipped a fair amount criticism in recent times, some of it understandable, a large amount thereof grotesquely overboard and unwarranted, but two factors which can never be questioned are their application and determination and again they showed it in spades again when it was needed most.
Firstly, as he tends to do, Joey Wallace played his part, intercepting a wayward Clare transition and pointing the resultant Mark. Cillian O’Sullivan then displayed the type of leadership which marks him out as a natural to assume the captaincy from Shane McEntee who recently went overseas with the defence forces.
The mercurial Moynalvey clubman drove over an equaliser (0-08 each) and though the Banner County faithful celebrated hitting the front as if winning the match, Andy McEntee’s men clearly hadn’t read that script. The value of having players like Conor McGill, Bryan Menton and Ronan Jones back in harness cannot be overstated.
Jones and Bryan McMahon then linked up effectively, with the latter slotting over the sixth equaliser of the day. The former then manufactured the turnover from which the introduced Conlon clipped over the all important winner.
Whatever else could be said about this league campaign, Meath have found a bit of form and hopefully as a result of same, confidence, in recent weeks. Derry always present a stern test for our teams, but, after their dismantling by Galway at home today, our lads have nothing to fear and a bit momentum behind them.
Meath: H. Hogan; J. Muldoon, E. Harkin, R. Clarke; D. Keogan, G. McGowan, C. McGill; B. Menton (0-1), R. Jones; J. Scully, T. O’Reilly, M. Costello; J. Morris (0-2), S. Walsh (0-3), C. O’Sullivan (0-1). Subs; B. McMahon (0-1) for O’Reilly, J. Wallace (0-1) for Scully, J. Conlon (0-1) for Walsh.
Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tiobraid Arann)