MEATH… 2-11
WICKLOW… 1-12
Meath won’t have shortened in the betting for the All Ireland, or the Leinster Championship or even promotion out of Div. 2 of the National Football League.
But, taken for what it was, John McCarthy – head of Meath’s Development Squads – would have to have been delighted with the progress report he had to deliver to Robbie Brennan.
At the beginning of another season’s action, it was a case of new year, new faces, same old heart, bravery and skill.
A lot of the faces may not have been familiar but everything Meath folk look for in custodians of the green and gold jerseys was on full display.
It has been said many times over the years that for a Royal County ensemble to be successful there’s a requirement of the presence of at least one representative of Skryne GFC in tow.
Well, using that scale of judgement, the new season got away to a flying start when the very promising Niall Finnerty wrapped his lethal left peg around the O’Neills and split the posts.
Then, further scores from Conor Gray (two-pointer), Oisin Martin and Diarmuid Moriarity (two) gave the visitors a decent platform before the latter got on the end of his own assist to fist to the net.
As is so often the case, concession of the ‘major’ seemed to spark Oisin McConville’s charges into life. Scores bloomed in the Garden via admirable warriors Mark Jackson and Dean Healy, as well as Eoin D’Arcy and Oisin McGraynor and JP Nolan.
However, just when the blue and gold thought they had worked themselves back into the match, Meath strung together a wonderful fluid move involving John O’Regan and Ross Ryan and Rian McConnell and Oisin Martin, at the end of which Castletown’s Killian Smyth drilled low to the net. Leaving the new look Royals up by 2-07 to 0-04 after the first 30*minutes.
Wicklow were a different outfit – literally and metaphorically – in Act II, with the locals outscored those on audition by 1-08 to 0-04 once Kildare referee Paddy McDermott – who was admirably reluctant to overuse his whistle – got things going again.
But then, the fact that Meath won the match is instructive in the efficiency and skill of the Meath defencive effort.
From debutantes Finn Moore in goal, Gerry Dwane at full back, Shane Gibney in the corner and Killian Smyth on the right wing, to the returned Ross Ryan and introduced Ciaran McCarrick, they all did their bit.
When the fat was in the fire, though, it was the outstanding Dwane who capped a terrific debut by preventing a second Wicklow goal which would have won them the day and, whisper it, they might have deserved!
Scorers – D. Moriarity (1-4), N. Finnerty (0-3, 1 x 2PT), O. Martin (0-2), C. Gray (0-2, 1 x 2PT).
Meath – F. Moore (Rathkenny); O. Smullen (Na Fianna), G. Dwane (Trim), S. Gibney (Moylagh); K. Smyth (Castletown), J. O’Regan (Skryne), R. Ryan (Summerhill); C. Gray (Dunshaughlin), C. O’Connor (Dunshaughlin); D. McGowan (Ratoath), R. McConnell (Castletown), O. Martin (Wolfe Tones); G. Breslin (Meath Hill), D. Moriarity (Curraha), N. Finnerty (Skryne).
Subs – D. Campion (Skryne) for Breslin, C. McCarrick (Dunshaughlin) for Smullen, S. Emannuel (St Patrick’s) for Gray, M. Coffey (Ballinabrackey) for Finnerty, C. Ennis (Ballinabrackey) for Ryan.
Referee – Paddy McDermott (Kildare)
*Pre season competitions are being played over 30 minute halves (Why?) and, as unnecessarily degrading as that is, to see an inter county fixture decided by a coin toss is utterly disgraceful.
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