MEATH…1-24
DERRY…1-20
If the old adage about wine getting better with age has any credence to it, Meath fans will be dreaming of what may be still to come from Donal Keogan and Bryan Menton after the two great warriors of their generation delivered Herculean efforts as Robbie Brennan’s brave lads silenced a lot of doubters when recording a thoroughly deserved win over Derry at Celtic Park this (Saturday) evening.
The entire narrative in the build up seemed to be stacked against the green and gold. An away draw against those who have traditionally been a bogey team, an Ulster referee and we up against his neighbours, the latest throw in time even though we had every bit as far to travel as Cork. Oh, and our best and most important forward out for the remainder of the season.
Time and tide have long proven, though, that Meath teams are very often at their best when written off. 1975, ’86, ’96, ’07, ’09, the Ladies Final of 2020 and the last couple of years continuously. You won’t become a great team overnight, but you sure as hell won’t become a bad one that quickly either.
Thus, as annoying and slightly insulting as the hysteria which followed our narrow defeats to Westmeath and Cork – both of whom have handsomely franked the form since – was, there’s nothing like a few grinding gears to warrant a dose of grease for a rig.
The Kinsella calamity aside, the last few weeks were exactly what Meath needed. Reset, recharge, refocus. Rely on what has been Robbie Brennan’s mantra since taking the job – next man up. One man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.
Desire and opportunity are the greatest motivators. And, aside from the already outlined, having players of the quality of Jack Flynn, Jack O’Connor and Mat Costello coming in feeling they had something to prove was no bad spot to be in.
Yet ironically, it was the two oldest swingers in town, referred to at the beginning, who got the show on the road for the eventual winners. As firstly, Keogan was on hand at the end of a lung-bursting run from a rejuvenated Sean Rafferty to slot the ball to the Derry net.
Then, magnificent Menton followed up Flynn’s orange flag score with one of his own. Before, with Meath absolutely pulverising the Derry kickouts, Costello and Jordan Morris chipped in with scores as James Conlon began to ignite.
That said, the knife-edged nature of battles between these two was underlined as, even with James Sargent getting in for a very cheap goal from a defencive perspective, Conlon’s wizardry enabled the visitors open a three point lead (1-09 to 1-06) on the way into half time, but were again pegged back, meaning the sides went in deadlocked.
That, however, was far from the end of first half business. With a clearly rattled Derry getting narky at the short whistle, as, before the second half began, the ever busy whistler Sean Hurson went card crazy dishing out four Black Cards (Ronan Ryan and Cian McBride on our side, Conor Doherty and Gareth McKinless theirs) while James McEntee was also booked emerging from the dressing rooms.
Even so, Jack Flynn and Lochlainn Murray traded points. Then, the resiliant Royals went on another burst as Conlon tacked on two more before Sean Brennan drilled his almost obligatory two point contribution.
Again though, Brendan Rogers (two pointer) and Shane McGuigan deadlocked matters again. Then Jordan Morris, Costello, Eoghan Frayne (free) and, yes, Conlon, kicked Meath into a lead of five.
Book closed? Not just yet, again the Oak Leaf men rallied as McGuigan clipped a couple to leave a goal between the sides before the brilliant, introduced Killian Smyth began and finished a brilliant move by lofting over a mighty insurance score.
So, what – or who – might be next? What will be, will be. Respect all, fear none and believe in ourselves. We’re there on merit.
SCORERS – J. Conlon (0-7), D. Keogan (1-2), B. Menton and J. Flynn (0-3 each), S. Brennan, M. Costello and J. Morris (0-2 each), J. O’Connor, E. Frayne and K. Smyth (0-1 each).
MEATH – S. Brennan; S. Lavin, S. Rafferty, R. Ryan; D. Keogan, B. Menton, S. Coffey; C. McBride, J. Flynn; J. O’Connor, M. Costello, C. Caulfield; J. Morris, J. Conlon, E. Frayne.
SUBS – K. Smyth for Ryan, C. O’Connor for Menton, C. Hickey for J. O’Connor, K. Curtis for Conlon, A. O’Neill for Flynn.
Referee – Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
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