Dogged Meath display fails to reap reward

Meath's bid for an All-Ireland VEC Inter-County SFC title ended at Ballyconnell on Saturday when they were out-played by a physically stronger Donegal outfit in the semi-final. Although this was a relatively low-scoring game, there was plenty of skill on view as each side possessed some talented players. Wind-assisted Meath wasted some good scoring opportunities in the opening half and trailed at the interval by 0-3 to 1-3. That the teams managed to repeat the first-half scoring-rate after the resumption was purely a coincidence, but the late goals in each half were certainly crucial. Meath also lost corner-forward Brian McMahon in the fifth minute. The Ratoath student sustained a suspected broken collarbone following what looked like a nasty challenge by his marker. Referee Joe McQuillan took no action and even seemed reluctant to hold up play while the injury was assessed. However, McQuillan issued a yellow card to the same Donegal defender for a similar tackle on McMahon's replacement Adam Gannon close to the interval. Gannon survived the experience. With a place in the All-Ireland final against Cork next Saturday as the prize, there was pressure on both teams. Meath made a bright start, but could only manage first-quarter pointed frees from Bryan Davis and David Donnellan for a 0-2 to 0-0 advantage. Donegal full-forward Patrick McBrearty got his side off the mark in the 20th minute and the Ulster champions found the net in the 23rd minute despite a little dog running around the Meath square. Whether the dog, which was subsequently ejected from the ground, actually distracted goalkeeper Colm O'Riordan is debatable, but the mongrel certainly didn't help the Meath custodian. McBrearty provided the final pass for the in-rushing Shaun Boyle who finished at the near post. Davis replied instantly from a free for Meath, but McBrearty converted two late Donegal frees, both of which could have been avoided, to leave the Royals adrift by three points at the break. Paddy Haslam moved to midfield with Neil Shortall for the second-half and Shane McEntee reverted to a wing-back position. Within four minutes of the resumption a brace of Davis points from play reduced the deficit to the minimum (0-5 to 1-3), but Meath were unable to get on terms and had to defend tenaciously to keep Donegal at bay. Meath full-back Conor McGill was outstanding while Cathal Finn was also solid as Donegal launched attack after attack. Points from McBrearty and Shaun McGarvey gave Donegal some breathing space, but Donnellan's well-taken score from play kept Meath in touch. Unfortunately, Meath failed to score for the final 13 minutes and when McBrearty made the opening for John O'Malley's goal, without the assistance of the little dog, with 10 minutes to go, the remainder was academic. Donegal – C McGlynn; J Sampbell, A Blair, A McCloskey; M Reilly, P Doherty, S Ellis; D White, L Barrett; R Dunleavy, J O'Malley (1-0), R McHugh; S McGarvey (0-1), P McBrearty (0-4 two frees), S Boyle (1-0). Subs – B McNeilis (0-1) for Dunleavy 39 mins; M Roarty for O'Malley 50m; G Gallagher for McGarvey 54m; D McDaid for McBrearty 55m; R McNamee for Gallagher 58m. Meath – Colm O'Riordan (Ratoath); Cathal Finn (Dunboyne), Conor McGill (Dunshaughlin), Gareth Deery (Ashbourne); Paddy Haslam (Ratoath), Shane Melia (Ashbourne), Jason Welby (Ashbourne); Shane McEntee (Dunboyne), Neil Shortall (Ashbourne); David Donnellan (Dunshaughlin 0-2 one free), Aaron Ennis (Athboy), Robert Farrelly (Oldcastle) Paul Lynch (Kells), Bryan Davis (Dunshaughlin 0-4 two frees), Brian McMahon (Ratoath). Subs – Adam Gannon (Longwood) for Deery five mins; Pearse McGrath (Nobber) for Ennis 39m; David Murtagh (Ashbourne) for Lynch; Jamie Farrelly (Nobber) for Shortall 53m; Padraig Gallagher (Dunboyne) for Donnellan 56m. Referee – Joe McQuillan (Cavan).