An Tuaisceart…0-12

Bru Na Boinne…0-12

Dare it be said, Bru Na Boinne’s 12 Apostles almost replicated Dublin’s unforgettable feat of annexing Sam Maguire in 1983 minus three of their troops? If not that, it could at least be mused that it’s unlikely young Moynalty official Kieran Olwell will become as (in)famous as Antrim’s John Gough following Tuesday’s Regional Football Championship encounter at Dunganny.

The Meath East combination of St Mary’s, St Patrick’s, St Vincent’s and Slane finished minus the services of Donal Landy, Conor Harford and Mark Crawley, while their manager Niall Flynn was also cautioned as cards were dolled out like confetti.

Instances like the latter really irk this corner. If match officials concentrated on what was going on involving the ball, folks wouldn’t become irritated away from it. Anyway, enough of all that.

Essentially, the draw left something of a limp feeling as An Tuaisceart were qualified thanks to a considerably better scoring difference. Though our representative on site said there was as much confusion regarding qualification permutations as there was concerning the cacophony of cards dispensed.

These are heady days for sport in Castletown. Noel Meade’s horses continue to acquit themselves to a high level in both Flat and National Hunt races while the area’s footballers began with a bang in the Leinster Club JFC. Clocking up 2-19 against Laragh of Wicklow.

Thus, it’s no surprise to see representatives of the green and gold feature to the fore of of Brian Farrell’s combination of Nobber, Castletown, Syddan, Drumconrath and Meath Hill.

I will admit to being more than a little surprised their tallisman Kevin Ross wasn’t involved. No matter, his club colleague Declan Cribbin picked up the baton for the first club in Meath with a stand in their ground.

The full forward notching a half dozen points over the hour, including his side’s first three scores. Yet, with Landy and Sam Victory prominent in attack, it was actually the men from the Valley who led by 0-09 to 0-05 after Act I.

It’s hard to know what was more commendable about the second half, Flynn’s forces holding on for a draw in the circumstances or An Tuaisceart coming back from being four down at the break and holding their opponents to just a triumvirate of scores thereafter.

Not that it really matters. Both would represent a decent night’s work in their own way. More importantly, there were surely a few on both sides who planted a seed with An Bainisteoir nua