Narrow victory earns Fitzsimons Cup for Meath

Claiming the Fitzsimons Cup with a narrow victory over Armagh on a damp Saturday evening in Navan won't make much of a mark on the footballing richter scale, but for Meath the win is a sign that things could be heading in the right direction. Before the GAA slammed the door shut on collective training and tournament or challenge matches for November and December, Gaeil Colmcille hosted the renewal of the Fitzsimons Cup at Pairc Tailteann and Meath, Armagh, Cavan and Louth took full advantage to test the strength in depth of their respective panels. Ultimately, Meath emerged victorious, but it was more about checking out new talent and building a solid base for 2012. Following the win over Louth last week and Saturday's narrow victory against Armagh, Meath find themselves in a healthy state as they break-up for the winter to continue their strength and conditioning work as individuals. Meath manager Seamus McEnaney gave 17 players an opportunity to put themselves in the frame for a place on his panel ahead of the start of a new league campaign and nobody let themselves down. Of last year's panel only Graham Reilly, Shane McAnarney, Paddy Gilsenan and Jamie Queeney featured, but fringe players like Cormac McGuinness, Eoin Reilly and Tom Walsh returned and did their prospects of a long-term role no harm whatsoever. Others like Mark Collins also impressed throughout. The Duleek/Bellewstown player injected plenty of pace through the middle of the Meath attack and he proved to be a proper handful for the Armagh defence in an entertaining game. The host club Gaeil Colmcille also supplied several players for this tournament and they impressed with Philip Ward showing a fine eye for a pass from midfield, Justin Carry-Lynch proving solid in goals and Brian Hanlon and Martin Barrett lively in attack. Overall it was a pleasing exercise. The quality of football was quite high as Meath moved the ball through the hands out of defence and set up quick attacks with long deliveries into the particularly effective Queeney. The Na Fianna player finished with four points to his credit, but he also provided plenty of options in attack. Eoin Reilly's hard-working attitude and Graham Reilly's penetration were useful weapons for Meath also. As challenge matches go this was one of the better encounters. Collins showed his cut and thrust when he sliced through the Armagh defence to open the scoring after just four minutes, soon after Graham Reilly found himself through on goals and fisted over to double the home side's advantage. The impressive Padraig Gribben responded for Armagh, but Meath continued to dominate the opening quarter with Eoin Reilly tagging on a point. Armagh went close to taking the lead when a mistake at the back by Donal Keoghan and McGuinness gave Eugene McVerry an opportunity, but Carry-Lynch saved well with his feet. Michael Stevenson narrowed the deficit with a point and seconds later Gribben restored parity with his second score. Armagh were on a roll and made it four points in-a-row when Stefan Campbell and Sean Moore (free) moved them into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead. Hanlon went close to finding the net, but his punch from Queeney's centre was cleared off the line by Declan McKenna. Gilsenan converted a free after Hanlon was fouled, but Armagh remained in control at that stage with Gribben again doing the damage. Queeney opened his account eight minutes before the break, but again Armagh moved two points clear with Campbell hitting the target. Frees from Queeney and Gilsenan brought Meath level, but Armagh took a 0-8 to 0-7 lead into the break after Moore pointed with ease. After the resumption the nip and tuck nature of the contest continued as Gilsenan levelled for Meath before Armagh restored their advantage when Mark Shields converted a '45' after Walsh had cleared Gribben's effort off the line. Dunshaughlin's Cathal O'Dwyer marked his appearance with a point, but again Armagh went ahead when McKenna drove forward and powered over the bar. However, that was the last time Armagh led as Meath took control in the final quarter. Two frees from Kilmainham's Michael Newman and two excellent scores from Queeney shoved Meath 0-13 to 0-10 clear and when Walsh took advantage of a Stephen Sheridan error for a goal it looked all over bar the shouting. But Armagh were not finished. Sheridan made amends for his mistake with a goal seven minutes from time. Gribben fisted his fourth point to close the gap to 1-11 to 1-13 and when Aidan Forker added a free the crowd were treated to a nervy final few minutes. However, Meath held on and while the victory won't rank as important it's from little acrons a mighty oak grows. Meath - Justin Carry-Lynch (Gaeil Colmcille); Donal Keoghan (Rathkenny), Cormac McGuinness (Navan O'Mahonys), Donncha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels); Graham Reilly (St Colmcille's 0-1), Shane McAnarney (Clann na nGael), Willie McGrath (Moylagh); Philip Ward (Gaeil Colmcille), Tom Walsh (Walterstown 1-0); Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle 0-3 two frees), Mark Collins (Duleek/Bellewstown 0-1), Eoin Reilly (Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-1); Brian Hanlon (Gaeil Colmcille), Martin Barrett (Gaeil Colmcille), Jamie Queeney (Na Fianna 0-4 one free). Subs - Cathal O'Dwyer (Dunshaughlin 0-1) for Hanlon half-time, Michael Newman (Kilmainham 0-2 frees) for McGrath half-time, McGrath for Barrett 45 mins, Hanlon for Gilsenan 56m, Barrett for McGrath 67m. Armagh - Sean Hughes; David Lavery, Declan McKenna (0-1), Conor Morgan; Mark Shields (0-1 '45'), Aidan Forker (0-1 free), Michael Stevenson (0-1); Anto Duffy, Eugene McDonnell; Pauric Gribben (0-4), Brian Mallon, Sean Moore (0-2 one free); Paul Carvill, Stefan Campbell (0-2), Eugene McVerry. Subs - Aaron Finden for Duffy 20 mins, Pierce Casey for Moore half-time, Ryan Rafferty for Carvill 40m, Conor White for Stevenson 45m, Ryan Magennis for Hughes 47m, James Donnelly for Forker 49m, Stephen Sheridan (1-0) for McDonnell 49m, Forker for Campbell 65m, Moore for Gribben 65m. Referee - Sean Carroll (Westmeath).