Graham Reilly's return will be a welcome boost for Meath's NFL Div 2 survival prospects.

Major boost for Meath ahead of Derry test

Published: Wed 30 Mar 2011, 5:00 PM

Meath go into Sunday's NFL Div 2 must-win game against Derry at Celtic Park boosted by the return of key players from injury. After losing Graham and Kevin Reilly for crucial games against Donegal and Kildare, Meath manager Seamus McEnaney will have a stronger hand following their return. The St Colmcille's man made a successful return from a groin operation with two points to help his club defeat St Ultan's by 2-13 to 0-7 in A FL Div 2 on Sunday. "We had Graham Reilly back training last week and he came through his club match unscathed. We are hoping to have Kevin Reilly back in full training this week, but the Derry game might come too soon. Seamus Kenny took a bit of knock playing for Simonstown, but I'm hopeful he will also be okay," McEnaney told the Meath Chronicle on Tuesday morning. "Stephen Bray will be back from his honeymoon on Friday, but he is unlikely to feature against Derry and we have lost David Bray for the year and that is very disappointing. "Our performance against Kildare was good, except for the result. We need a good performance against Derry and we need to win. Our away form is poor, but we broke our run of good form in Navan against Donegal, so hopefully next Sunday we can break our run of bad form," he concluded. The form against Derry is good with two draws and a victory in the last three outings. The win came in 2006 when Meath claimed a 0-10 to 0-8 success and a similar result would be very welcome on Sunday. On the club scene, Saturday's A FL Div 4 match between hosts St Mary's and Kilbride was abandoned seven minutes from time. According to reports, the referee had issued a red card to a St Mary's player and a Kilbride official during the game. St Mary's were leading by six points when the game was abandoned Co Committee fixtures secretary Jimmy Henry confirmed that the game had been abandoned, but both clubs refused to comment. In the MFL Div 3 on Saturday, the game between Clonard and Duleek/Bellewstown was abandoned by referee Donald MacLeod following an alleged melee that spilled over onto the sideline and involved club officials. Clonard were leading by 4-11 to 1-3 with nine minutes remaining.