Meath…0-08
Westmeath…1-03
Even using the most elaborate journalistic or poetic license possible, one would get to turn the sow’s ear of a match into a silk purse.
Yet in one way at least, Meath won’t care a jot. Getting back on track after last week’s disapointment against Laois will be all that mattered to John McCarthy and his players.
Of course, that’s the way it had to be as from here in, the Leinster U-20 FC is knockout football. However, before getting into the nuts and bolts of tonight’s action, a word for the host club, Donaghmore/Ashbourne who, despite the atrocious weather there has been in these parts in recent days, as ever, had their pitch in as good of a condition as could be expected.
That said, it would be folly not to concede that climatic conditions did nobody any favours. They certainly weren’t conducive to open, entertaining football. Thus, it was a night scorers were going to be at a premium.
Hence why the home side would’ve been quite content to be 0-03 to 0-00 to the good at end of opening quarter. The scores coming via two exceptional efforts from the classy Ciaran Caulfield – one with his seldom seen right boot – and a fisted effort by skipper Eoghan Frayne.
Amazingly, Frayne’s clever solo effort was the last score of the first half. Obviously, conditions played a significant part in such being the case. But so too did Westmeath profligacy and, more importantly, exceptional Meath defensive work.
Meaning at least five Lake County score attempts dropping short into Meath custodian Billy Hogan. Not to mention gutsy housekeeping by Liam Kelly, Conor Ennis, Brian O’Reilly and, in particular, the magnificent John O’Regan.
All of this whilst playing the concluding the first half and beginning the second with 14 men after Conor Gray was black carded for a clumsy rather than malicious foul.
By the time Senan Baker – son of Clare hurling great Ollie – raised a white flag for Luke Dempsey’s team in the 43rd minute, the score had shifted to 0-07 to 0-01. Mind you, as is so often the case, it was another one for the buses as, 25 seconds later, attacking wing back James Geoghegan flashed over Hogan’s bar.
However, with Kelly commanding his fiefdom in front of goal, O’Reilly and O’Regan constantly driving out from the half back line, Gray and Jack Kinlough controlling matters in midfield and Leonard buzzing around like a worker bee, Meath asserted again,
The impressive Liam Stafford drove over a classy and deserved point and though Baker did net a tamely awarded penalty, the locals recorded a deserved victory.
Not only was it a wholly merited win, an ‘ugly’ win, to an extent at least, is a learning win. They were sternly tested here, and that they were able to negotiate their way out of it.
That can only stand to them. Yes, an Everest awaits, but it’s there to be attacked. With confidence.
MEATH – B. Hogan; B. O’Halloran, L. Kelly, C. Ennis; B. O’Reilly, J. O’Regan, J. Finnerty; J. Kinlough, C. Gray; C. Caulfield (0-3), E. Frayne (0-4, 1F), L. Stafford (0-1); A. Bowden, O. Keogh, S. Leonard. SUBS – K. Smyth for Caulfield, C. Smith for Bowden, B. Moran for Stafford, A. Murphy for Leonard.
Referee – Darragh Murphy (Wicklow)