Meath get back to winning ways
An explosive second-half performance saw Meath up the tempo and score a comprehensive 3-15 to 0-9 victory over sorry Derry at Pairc Tailteann today to get their NFL Div 2 promotion prospects back on track.
An error-strewn opening period ended with Derry using the strong wind to build a two-point advantage, but Meath really should have been ahead as they concocted a litany of missed chances.
Donal Lenihan was guilty of missing two relatively easy frees in the opening minutes, while Cillian O'Sullivan blazed a great goal chance wide before Shane McEntee eventually opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
Bryan Menton doubled Meath's lead when Ben McKinless tipped over his dropping effort, but by the 14th minute Derry were level as they used the wind to find their range through Benny Heron and Conor McAtamney.
O'Sullivan blazed another goal chance over the bar from a tight angle, but Derry restored parity two minutes later when Heron was allowed the freedom of the park to waltz through the middle.
O'Sullivan and Emmet McGuckian traded scores to maintain that partity, but both sides continued to rack up the wides before Derry finished the half on the front foot with late scores from Niall Loughlin (free) and Enda Lynn, following a poor kickout by Paddy O'Rourke, giving them a 0-6 to 0-4 interval advantage.
If the first-half was bleak, the second period brought much needed brightness as Meath outscored Derry by 3-11 to 0-4 as the Ulster side capitulated.
Derry maintained their two-point cushion in the first eight minutes after the break as Menton and Forde traded points with James Kielt and Lynn, but Derry only scored once more for the remainder as Meath upped the tempo.
O'Sullivan's first goal trickled over the line as McKinless parried his effort, but it ignited the fire that burned Derry.
Two points from Menton, one after an exquisite pick up, and scores from Brian Sheridan and Ruairi O Coilean pushed Meath into a 1-10 to 0-8 lead.
Forde picked up his first yellow card after a series of fouls before points from Joey Wallace and Cian O'Brien made it 1-12 to 0-8.
Meath lost Eamon Wallace to a black card and a minute later Forde picked up his second yellow and was sent-off in the 64th.
Kielt closed Derry's account before Meath finished in style as Bryan McMahon netted, James Toher converted a '45' and McMahon kicked a free, after the Derry goalkeeper was black carded.
To add further insult to Derry O Coileain got another point before O'Sullivan took his tally to 2-2 with a fine goal to get Meath's NFL campaign back on track
Meath - Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keogan, Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; Willie Carry, Brian Power, Shane McEntee (0-1); James Toher (0-1 '45'), Bryan Menton (0-4); Alan Forde (0-1), Cillian O’Sullivan (2-2), Cian O’Brien (0-1); Conor Downey, Brian Sheridan (0-1), Donal Lenihan. Subs – Joey Wallace (0-1) for Downey 29 mins, Ruairi O Coileain (0-2) for Burke half-time, Bryan McMahon (1-1 one free) for Lenihan 52m, Eamon Wallace for McEntee 58m, Sean Tobin for Sheridan 70m. Black card – E Wallace (replaced by Kevin Ross 65m).
Derry - B McKinless; N Keenan, C Nevin, R Murphy; N Forester, M McEvoy, P Hagan; C McAtamney (0-1), J Kielt (0-2); E Lynn (0-2), N Loughlin (0-1 free), C McWilliams; B Heron (0-2), E McGuckin (0-1), D Talon. Subs – O Hegarty for Hagan 43 mins, J Doherty for Nevin 44m, G O'Neill for McAtamney 54m, R Bell for Loughlin 59m. Black card - B McKinless (replaced by T Mallon 70m).
Referee - Liam Devanney (Mayo).