MEATH…3-17
DERRY…1-22
Whoever the odds compilers are on GAA matches are, they must be from some county that Meath stuffed in times past. Furthermore, they must be perfectly balanced with a chip on both shoulders, because the manner in which they have chalked up matches involving Meath teams of late has been nothing short of insulting.
In midweek, Kildare were installed as 1/3 favourites (and 5/6 to go on and win the Leinster U-20 FC) even though Cathal O’Bric’s side are reigning and defending Leinster Champions, were playing at home and had already beaten Dublin in the competition. Thankfully, our lads rubbished that disrespect and now look forward to what’s liable to be a mighty stern test against Louth on Wednesday next.
So to the county senior hurlers. Again, their opponents, Derry, were listed as 1/3 supposed good things before Saturday’s Christy Ring Cup encounter at Celtic Park. Right so they did beat Johnny Greville’s charges earlier in the league. True too that Meath did ship a very heavy defeat in their opening ‘summer’ encounter against London.
However, basing an appraisal solely on that firstly ignores the facts that (a) Meath bounced back from that opening day reversal with an impressive outing against Tyrone and (b) outside of Antrim, Meath are the most successful team in the history of the competition.
Mind you, anybody who doubted the credentials of this green and gold group got their answer fairly lively when the rejuvenated Mikey Cole netted twice inside the first 11 minutes. That in itself gave the visitors a buffer they would never lose as points from Jack Regan and Kris Gorman left those who last lifted the trophy named after the greatest hurler of all time in 2023 clear by 2-09 to 0-09 at the break.
Though Cormac Doherty hit the first three scores of the second half for the locals, a Damien Healy goal at the other end appeared to have put his side back in the box seat at 3-09 to 0-12.
Ultimately, I suppose it did make difference, even though points from Nicky Potterton, Lorcan Byrne and substitutes Sean Quigley and Cian Rogers appeared to have kept Meath at arms’ length from their opponents.
Though in fairness Derry did come rattling back at their guests and it was probably fitting that it was their main man Regan who clipped over the insurance score.
Scorers – J. Regan (0-6), M. Cole (2-0), D. Healy (1-0), N. Potterton (0-3), J. Toher and L. Byrne (0-2 each), S. Quigley, K. Gorman and C. Rogers (0-1 each).
Meath – C. O’Riordan; S. Coloe, D. Kelly, K. Donnelly; M. Burke, J. Toher, D. Shine; L. Byrne, J. Cole; K. Gorman, J. Kelly, J. Regan; D. Healy, M. Cole, N. Potterton.
SUBS – S. Ennis for Coloe, C. Rogers for J. Kelly, J. Murray for Gorman, D. O’Higgins for M. Cole, S. Quigley for Regan.
Leave a Reply