MEATH… 1-20
LOUTH… 0-22
Call it guts, knowhow, balls or whatever you want. The bottom line is that this Meath team has copious amounts of that something which has always enabled those in green and gold to go above and beyond and prove they’re as good as anybody.
Now, the said qualities have a couple of ways of manifesting. And, in the course of this typically franetic meeting of the feisty neighbours, both were on view in the green and gold corner.
In the first half, Robbie Brennan’s team were at their shooting best as Ruairi Kinsella, Mat Costello, Jordan Morris, Aaron Lynch and Eoghan Frayne all raising either orange or white flags before Kinsella plundered a green one which left the1/5 favourites clear by 1-15 to 0-07 as they turned to shoot into Hill 16.
What couldn’t have been known in real time, though, was the impact the wind in Croke Park had on the match for both sides.
Best exhibited by the following stat – both sides kicked 0-15 into the Canal End, while, in contrast, Louth hit seven points into the Hill in the first haif to Meath’s five after the break.
However, despite the referee looking out of his depth and giving the Wee County plethora of frees that were more melted ice cream than plain soft, the redoubtable Royals admirably held their composure and – to borrow a bit of rugby parlance – worked a few phases of possesion until they manipulated an opening from which Jack the lad let another monsterous long range missile off.
Admittedly, there is a reluctance to waste time and energy dissecting refereeing ridicule, but you simply have to consider the following:
(1): Throwing in the ball even though the handbag slinging had begun.
(2): Doling out four black cards after NINE SECONDS
(3): Sean Rafferty being of the foresaken four even though he was nowhere near any of it.
(4): Seamus Lavin’s jersey literally being ripped off him and kicked away when he went to pick it up.
(5): Sean Brennan being punched in the face – not a thing done about it.
(6): Louth awarded a penalty even though their player picked the ball clean off the ground.
(7): Referee awarding penalty and THEN consulting other officials.
(8): Mat Costello and Aaron Lynch both taken out off the ball – no action taken.
(9): Lynch being done for over carrying even though he hadn’t gathered possession.
And, though inclination is to think Our Lord may have turned it a little bit to make sure of clockwork orange, it was the very least the home side deserved.
Scorers – J. Morris (0-6, 1x2PT, 1F), R. Kinsella (1-3), J. Flynn (0-3, 1 x 2PT), A. Lynch (0-2), B. Menton, E. Frayne and J. O’Connor (0-1 each).
Meath – S. Brennan; S. Lavin, S. Rafferty, B. O’Halloran; D. Keogan, S. Coffey, C. Caulfield; B. Menton, J. Flynn; C. McBride, R. Kinsella, M. Costello; J. Morris, E. Frayne, A. Lynch.
Subs – C. Duke for Costello, J. O’Connor for Lynch, A. O’Neill for Menton, K. Smyth for Keogan.
Referee – Brendan Griffin (Kerry).
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