Hackett earns a draw for Meath

NEIL Hackett has been one of Meath"s most consistent performers for some time now and he did the business again on Sunday when he fired over an injury-time point to salvage a draw for his side in the NHL Div 3A against Wicklow at Pairc Tailteann. The Dunboyne man slotted over a free from over 40 metres out to rescue a Meath side who looked to be on their way to their first defeat of the campaign. This was a let off for the Royal County who trailed their opponents for lengthy spells with Hackett"s accuracy, and calm nerves, ensuring the last-gasp free was converted after Joey Keena was fouled. While Meath were fortunate to snatch a draw it should also be highlighted that they came back to take the lead after trailing by eight points at one stage in the first-half. Meath completely ignored the old adage that a good beginning is half the work by making the kind of start that certainly didn"t help their cause. Facing into a stiff breeze they were 0-1 to 1-2 down after seven minutes and 0-3 to 1-7 in arrears inside 15 minutes. It took the home side until the seventh minute before they slotted over their opening score when that man Hackett split the posts from a free, the first of nine points he contributed to Meath"s big scoreline. And it is that tally, 2-16, which will hearten the Meath management and their hardy band of supporters ahead of the game with Armagh on Sunday where a victory will copperfasten a place in the NHL Div 3 decider. The goals on Sunday were scored by Derek Muldoon and Nicky Horan. Meath"s opening goal after 18 minutes was certainly welcome as it gave them hope at a time when Wicklow looked to be building a head of steam. The goal was also the product a superb move stitched together by Meath. It started with Enda Fitzgerald picking up the ball close to his own goals, Tony Fox and James Boyle were involved in getting the ball to Hackett who delivered a superb cross-field pass to Stephen Clynch. He in turn released Ger O"Neill whose shot rebounded off a Wicklow back into the path of Muldoon who fired high to the net. There was a further tonic for the Royal County troops in the 30th minute when O"Neill won possession near half-way, off-loaded to Hackett and he skilfully passed to Horan who neatly slotted home. At half-time Meath trailed by 2-4 to 1-11. The Wicklow goal was scored in the opening minutes when the ball was played in behind the Meath defence and John Keogh made the net dance. The scoreline could have been lop-sided a lot more in Wicklow"s favour at the interval if not for the efforts of Royal County goalkeeper Stephen Quinn. The Killyon man displayed razor-sharp reflexes to get down to block a stinging shot from Thomas Devereux on six minutes. Shortly afterwards Quinn was once more fully alert to turn away a mighty effort from Geoffrey Birmingham as Wicklow threatened to run riot. The opening 20 minutes or so of the second-half proved to be a more encouraging spell for Meath when they clawed their way back to take the lead for the first time. Hackett set the tone for the revival with a sublime piece of skill just after the break when he drove the ball between the posts from a sideline cup about 35 metres out. 'Do Meath get two points for that?' somebody in the press box enquired in jest. The answer was no, but Hackett certainly deserved the warm applause. Onwards Meath went and points from Keena, Hackett, Boyle and Horan brought them level on 47 minutes. Horan also went close to netting a second goal with Wicklow netminder Ted Kennedy saving well. Keena lofted over two points in quick succession to edge Meath ahead, 2-12 to 1-13. Then the Royals lost their way and inspired by some fine scores from their chief dangerman Jonathan O"Neill and one from Andy O"Brien Wicklow went a point in front with normal time up. Meath launched one last attack, Keena earned a free and once again Hackett stepped forward to post over a point and earn a draw for Meath they just about deserved. Meath - S Quinn; J Corrigan, E Fitzgerald, M Foley; M Horan, P Fagan, A Ryan; J Boyle (0-1), S Clynch; T Fox, N Hackett (0-9), G O"Neill (0-1); D Muldoon (1-0), J Keena (0-4), N Horan (1-1). Subs - E Keogh for Fagan, D Crimmins for Fox, P Durnin for Muldoon. Wicklow - T Kennedy; T Doyle, J Connors, P Kiely; N Skelton, L Kennedy, G Whyte; J O"Neill (0-7), R Keddy (0-2); J Murphy (0-2), G Birmingham (0-2), T Devereux (0-2); A Driver (0-1), A Driver, J Keogh (1-1). Subs - E Dunne (0-1) for Whyte, J Connors for A Driver, E O"Neill for J Connors, A O"Brien (0-1) for Devereux. Referee - Garrett Duffy (Antrim).