MEATH… 0-12
KILDARE…0-09
Stirring contributions from substitutes Danny Dixon, Aaron Lynch and Ruairi Kinsella catapulted Meath to a vital victory after a typically riveting encounter against their Leinster rivals.
You can be sure Meath were keen to lay down a marker early, and duly did so courtesy of quick scores from Eoghan Frayne and Mat Costello. Goalkeeper Sean Brennan was responsible for the home side’s next two scores via long range frees.
Kildare eventually settled and scores from Kevin Feely and Ben McCormack (two each) and their stopper Mark Donnellon but fine long range efforts from Ronan Jones and Frayne gave the locals a 0-06 to 0-05 half time lead.
Another Feely free levelled affairs immediately after the restart, but a Frayne ‘Mark’ restored the green and gold fray’s advantage.
An inspirational solo effort from Skryne’s Darragh Campion pushed the advantage out to two before the all whites hit the next three scores unanswered to leave Colm O’Rourke’s side staring down the gun barrels of a black hole. To their credit however, akin to last week against the other noisy neighbours with little to shout about, our lads dug in and dug out the reward their fortitude deserved.
Adam O’Neill, Ciaran Caulfield and Campion effected a succession of turnovers that had the old ground shaking with fan approval. From said pilfering, the hard running of the brilliant Danny Dixon firstly allowed Cathal Hickey flash over a superb equaliser before Frayne converted a free and the introduced Kinsella and Lynch essayed over mesmeric insurance scores.
SCORERS – E. Frayne (0-3), S. Brennan, M. Costello (0-2 each, 1 x 45,2F), D. Campion, R. Jones, C. Hickey, R. Kinsella and A. Lynch (0-1 each).
MEATH – S. Brennan; D. Keogan, A. O’Neill, B. O’Halloran; C. Caulfield, D. Campion, S. Coffey; R. Jones, C. McBride; D. McGowan, E. Frayne, J. O’Connor; S. Walsh, M. Costello, C. Hickey.
SUBS – D. Dixon for McBride, R. Kinsella for O’Connor, A. Lynch for McGowan, M. Murphy for Coffey, A. McDonnell for Frayne.
Referee – S. Mulhare (Laois)