Meath… 1-19
Tipperary… 0-11
In many ways, Meath were on a hiding to nothing this evening. They were expected to win and win well. Having done so, it’s very much a case of taking care of business. If they hadn’t, it would’ve been a case of wigs on the Fair Green.
Doubtless, when the locals were slow from the stalls, to the tune of David Power’s team accounting for the first three scores of the games, there was a mixture of dread, anger and ‘I told you so’ whirring around the attendees in Pairc Tailteann.
You can be sure though, nobody felt the need to turn the page and start afresh than the players and management themselves. Thus, while it’s often the case that a free taker won’t settle fully into their evening’s work until the first goes between the uprights, in the early stages here, the same affliction appeared to have foisted itself on those in green and gold. However, once Mat Costello opened Meath’s account in the 12th minute, it was as if a weight was lifted off all and sundry. Thereafter, Colm O’Rourke’s charges outscored their visitors by 0-06 to 0-01.
There’s something reassuring, almost homely, about a Summerhill man being at full back and a Harnan manning the No. 6 jersey for Meath. For whatever reason, in the second half in Tullamore, something clicked at the back. Though it ultimately fell short in the midlands, it was the foundation stone upon which respectability was attained then and, on the occasion, once the rearguard got to grips with what was in fairness a lively Tipperary attack, there were few grey areas for Meath.
Apart, that is, from the sector of the field dominated by Conor Gray! The Dunshaughlin lad had a fine debut. Driving over a mighty first half point at a time when he and his colleagues needed settled while, very quickly, it appeared himself and Ronan Jones worked out how to be the perfect foil for each other.
Having led by three at the break (0-07 to 0-04), the Royals visibly upped the tempo afterwards as points from Jack O’Connor and Jordan Morris (two) before Aaron Lynch marked his Championship debut by drilling low to the net ending the event as a contest.
What that did, mind you, was allow Colm and the lads empty the bench and the players, in turn, express themselves. Which they did in spades, with Sean Coffey, Daithi McGowan, Thomas O’Reilly and Ronan Ryan really catching the eye.
A night of relief and promise before they continue on their Tailteann Cup odyssey in the sunny South East next weekend.
Meath – S. Brennan; A. O’Neill, R. Ryan, M. Flood; D. Keogan (0-1), P. Harnan, S. Coffey; R. Jones, C. Gray (0-1); C. O’Sullivan, J. Flynn (0-1), J. O’Connor (0-1); J. Morris (0-4), M. Costello (0-3, 2F), A. Lynch (1-3, 1F, 1M).
SUBS – T. O’Reilly (0-3) for Flynn, H. O’Higgins for O’Neill, D. McGowan for Jones, C. Hickey for O’Connor, D. Lenihan (0-1) for O’Sullivan.
Referee: B. Griffin (Kerry)
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