MEATH… 4-13
REGIONAL ALL STARS… 0-14
The ‘new normal’ in the GAA never seems to run short of ways to leave you scratching your head. Exhibit A – the 2024 season getting underway for county teams before the current year has expired.
Having said that, for me at least, there was a miniature injection of excitement in finding out how this evening’s blow-out in Dunganny played out. Specifically, how the Meath selection would line out.
To that end, it was pleasantly surprising to see regulars like Ronan Jones, Aaron Lynch, Mat Costello, Jack O’Connor and Jack Flynn featured at this stage.
However, in one way, tonight was more a stage for the All Stars to put themselves in the shop window for a county call up. And, on that score, John McCarthy and Conor O’Donoghue’s charges wasted no time in stating their case.
Throughout the race for the Richie Barry Cup, Blackwater’s Brian O’Reilly and Daire Rowe of champions Boyne Valley were among the most noteworthy performers.
To underline as much, Syddan’s Rowe and the outstanding O’Reilly of St Michael’s were to the forefront of operations as the club combination opened a lead of 0-06 to 0-01 with Rowe and Paddy McDermott (two each) O’Reilly and Danny Dixon all on target.
However, there was a clue as to how the rest of the evening would play out when Daithi McGowan gathered possession and went straight at the amalgamation’s defence before offloading to the in-rushing Jones who duly flicked past Conor Gilsenan.
David McLoughlin responded with a point at the other end, but when Aaron Lynch and Eoghan Frayne combined to net again it meant Colm O’Rourke’s side led by 2-04 to 0-08 with half of the 60 minute encounter elapsed.
Along with the aforementioned O’Reilly, Longwood’s Sean Coloe was another participant to impress in the Regional Championship and he underlined as such when posting the first two points the second half upon his introduction. The All Stars duly retook the lead (0-11 to 2-04) but that was good as it got for the trialists.
In contrast, Frayne netted again, as did the very impressive Diarmuid Moriarity. Obviously not a match to read too much into but plenty of different faces looked at. Auditions continue next Saturday when Meath travel to Cork to take on the Rebel County in a match in memory of Teddy McCarthy. The Galway hurlers will do likewise with their red and white adversaries on the same ‘card’.
MEATH – Billy Hogan (Longwood); Michael Murphy (St Peter’s, Dunboyne), Michael Flood (St Brigid’s), Niall Murphy (Curraha); Sean Coffey 0-1 (Ballinbrackey), Harry O’Higgins (Drumbarragh Emmetts), Mark Coffey (Ballinabrackey); Cian McBride (St Ultan’s), Daithi McGowan (Ratoath); Jack Kinlough (St Peter’s, Dunboyne), Ruairi Kinsella 0-2 (Dunshaughlin), Ronan Jones 1-0 (St Peter’s, Dunboyne); Aaron Lynch 0-1 (Trim), Eoghan Frayne 2-2 (Summerhill), James Conlon 0-1 (St Colmcille’s).
SUBS – Diarmuid Moriarity 1-2 (Curraha) for Jones (22), Adam McDonnell (Summerhill) for O’Higgins (24), Ciaran Caulfield 0-1 (Trim) for S. Coffey (HT), Jack O’Connor (Curraha) for Lynch (HT), Jack Flynn 0-1 (Ratoath) for Kinlough (45), Mat Costello 0-2 (Dunshaughlin) for Frayne (45).
Regional All-Stars – Conor Gilsenan (Blackwater); Shane Gibney (Loughcrew), Sean Ryan (Tara), Brian O’Reilly (Blackwater 0-1); Brendan McKeon (Moyfenragh), Darren Brennan (Boyne Valley, Conor Farrelly (Boyne Valley 0-1); Oran Mulvanny (Loughcrew), Sean Reilly (Loughcrew 0-1); Gary Breslin (An Tuascairt), Paddy McDermott (Blackwater 0-2), Aodhan Mallon (Ardbraccan); Daire Rowe (Boyne Valley 0-5 one frees, one mark), Danny Dixon (Moyfenragh 0-1), David McLoughlin (Boyne Valley 0-1).
Subs – Sean Coloe (Moyfenragh 0-2) for Breslin, Con Smith (Tara) for Mallon, James Mooney (An Tuascairt) for Dixon, Eoin Griffin (Moyfenragh) for Gilsenan all half-time.
Referee: Martin Dawson