Meath… 2-23
Wexford… 0-12
To firstly tidy up the nuts and bolts of the situation, any day you kick 2-23 and keep a clean sheet has to be regarded as a good day’s work. Anyone scoffing ‘it was only Wexford’ obviously hasn’t been following the formbook lately.
This was the same Wexford team which scored 1-23 from play against an Offaly side who comprehensively defeated Meath earlier in the season. So, you can be sure Colm O’Rourke et al will have had their guard well up.
Even allowing for that, though, they couldn’t have scripted as glistening an opening as what transpired. With James McEntee, Jordan Morris and Aaron Lynch buzzing around like worker bees up top, Meath had seven points clocked up before the purple and gold disturbed the umpires.
Still, when the hard-working Lynch sumptuously found the Wexford net to leave the locals clear by 1-12 to 0-03 at the change of ends, avoiding thoughts that the job was done was a difficult task. However, one sure way to avoid any such laxity was to simply carry on as they had been proceeding prior to the break. And, with James McEntee producing undoubtedly his best ever display in a Meath jersey, that’s exactly what happened.
In fact, they only fell one point short of matching their tally from the first half, en route to hitting 2-20 of their accumulation from open play. Cathal Hickey’s annexation of our second ‘Major’ was due reward for an energy-sapping, grafting performance from the Seneschalstown player.
The other bonus from the perspective of the green and gold was that, because of the buffer they had built up, it afforded the management the run the bench and get game-time into lads. All of whom took their opportunities with aplomb – Ciaran Caulfield, Daithi McGowan and Eoghan Frayne particularly catching the eye.
Now, those with misconceived ideas as to Meath’s current standing in the game will probably roast my ears for the following but it is my genuine belief that our lads are now in bonus territory regardless of what happens from here in. Getting this team to Croke Park has long been a long stated aim from within the camp and, for these players, a runout in the big field will be an invaluable experience for them and another hurdle jumped in terms of progress. But the progress which has already been achieved deserves acknowledgement too.
MEATH – S. Brennan; A. O’Neill, R. Ryan, H. O’Higgins; D. Keogan, P. Harnan, S. Coffey; J. Flynn (0-1), C. Gray; C. Hickey (1-0), J. McEntee (0-6), J. O’Connor; J. Morris (0-6, 1M), M. Costello (0-4, 2F), A. Lynch (1-2).
SUBS – D. Lenihan for Lynch, D. McGowan (0-3) for McEntee, C. Caulfield for Keogan, C. O‘Sullivan for O’Connor, E. Frayne (0-1) for Flynn.
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
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