DUNSANY (Meath)…2-10
AUGHRIM (Wicklow)…1-07
Jack Cottrell’s converted penalty on the call of half time may not have ultimately been the decisive score in this AIB Leinster Club JFC quarter final at wintry Pairc Tailteann, but the lively full forward’s class throughout absolutely was as Kevin Cahill’s charges put another chink of brightness – along with the Camogie ladies of Navan O’Mahonys – on what has otherwise been a chastening couple of weeks for the county at provincial level.
It was, however, the natural leader of the Meath representatives – who three weeks ago claimed the county title after an agonising eight final defeats – Eoin Harkin – who got their Leinster odyssey away to an assured start with two early frees. Thereafter, though, there was an elongated bout of stalemate, which was eventually broken when the men from the Wicklow hills not only broke their duck but hit three on the spin and thus the front.
Having gone through what they had in pursuance of a county title, the one thing you could be sure of was the fact that Dunsany wouldn’t panic. And so it was that those in navy with red trim hit back with scores from Mark and Luke Horan before Cottrell’s spot kick gave the home side the breathing space the pre match odds suggested they should have had.
Cahill’s charges continued to assert after the break as another Harkin free and further efforts on target from Cottrell and Harry Cahill left the Meath winners 1-07 to 0-07 clear before a rocket of a goal from Aughrim’s Alex Kavanagh forced them to rouse themselves from whatever sense of security they may have been headed towards.
Again, however, you were left with the feeling that, having gone through and survived all the torture thrown at them over the years and come out the far side of it that, having discovered the winning habit, they weren’t about to let go of it that quick. Mind you, it’s doubtful even they foresaw tightening their grip on proceedings quite as quickly as transpired to be the case.
The excellent Niall Flynn getting another of his laser guided kickouts away immediately after the Aughrim goal which then promulgated some outstanding linkup play between the Cahill brothers, Harry and James which resulted in the latter blasting to the net at the Hospital end of Meath’s elderly home ground.
Thereafter, points from Cottrell (two) and highly impressive substitute Kris Gorman secured safe passage to a meeting with the Laois representatives at the same venue in a fortnight’s time. Not before, fittingly, custodian Flynn had the final say when beating away a Kavanagh penalty, the rebound from which the full forward crashed off the crossbar.