Meath scrape past Sligo

It certainly wasn't pretty and at times it wasn't very effective, but Meath eventually got over the line in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening to edge out a game Sligo side in the All-Ireland SFC qualifier Round 2A by 0-14 to 1-9.

With just five minutes of the regulation 70 remaining Meath trailed by a point, but then cometh the hour, cometh the man – Mickey Newman.

The Kilmainham sharpshooter hadn't featured all year for Meath, but in the 61^st he came on to replace Donal Lenihan and promptly contributed two pointed frees, the first to restore parity and then edged Meath in front for only the third time.

Sean Tobin put three points between the side with a converted '45' and a massive score from play, but there was still time for late drama with James Toher preserving Meath's lead with a goal line clearance to keep Pat Hughes tame effort out of the net.

David Kelly did eventuyally pounce on the loose ball to loft over, but it was the last action as Meath held on by the skin of their teeth to advance to the third round and secure their first qualifier win since 2001.

The strong wind which blew into the O'Mahonys clubhouse end was of major assistance to Sligo in the opening period as they released the ball quickly from defence after Meath had committed men forward.

A foul by Graham Reilly, who did more work inside his own 45-metre line than outside it, gifted Adrian Marren with the opening score after 90 seconds, but Meath seemed comfortable as they built patiently from defence.

James McEntee restored parity two minutes later and in the seventh minute Donal Lenihan converted a 40-metre free after Sean Tobin was fouled, but Sligo continued to threaten before Ronan Jones combined well with Ruairi O Coileain to blast over and make it 0-3 to 0-1.

Sligo's response saw Marren convert a '45' and a free to level it up in the 14^th minute and by the start of the second quarter they were ahead when Marren made it 0-4 to 0-3 with a 45-metre free.

A superb score from Shane McEntee restored parity for the third time, but in the 21^st minute Meath had a huge let off when Paddy O'Rourke spilled Stephen Coen's up and under and Conor McGill cleared off the line.

The ball fell kindly to Pat Hughes and in the ensuing scramble O'Rourke tipped Hughes effort over the bar for the visitors first score from play.

Another patient build up led to a brilliant score from Reilly and when Lenihan converted a 25^th minute free, after Donal Keogan, was fouled Meath were in front for the first time since the 13^th minute.

A massive point from Niall Murphy made it 0-6 each and after James Toher arrowed a free wide Sigo responded with a goal in the 31^st minute when Neil Ewing burst through the Meath defence to set up Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch for a scrambled finish which gifted Sligo a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.

Meath were slow to take advantage of the wind after the break and it took them almost five minutes to register their first of the half when Reilly pointed after good play by O Coileain, Toher and Tobin.

Cillian O'Sullivan left the minimum between the two minutes later, but Sligo proved difficult to put away and stretched their lead to 1-7 to 0-8 when O'Kelly-Lynch drove over.

A superb score from over 45 metres from Lenihan cut the gap to one in the 47^th minute and when Tobin levelled it up eight minutes later it seemed likely Meath would kick on.

However, they continued to be ponderous and indeicisve in attack as Lenihan also drooped two chances from frees into Aidan Devaney's hands.

Neil Ewing restored Sligo's lead with only their second point of the half in the 59^th mninute, but the introduction of Newman seemed to add a bit of spark to the Meath attack.

A foul on O Coileain gifted Newman his first free and he made no mistake and a minute later he hit the target again after Reilly was fouled.

Tobin also seemed to get a new lease of life with Newman's introduction and his two points gave Meath some breathing space, but they needed Toher's late intervention to be sure of their place in round 3A where they will face either Clare, Mayo or Donegal, the draw will be made on Monday morning.

 

Meath (v Sligo) - Paddy O’Rourke (Skryne); Mickey Burke (Longwood), Conor McGill (Ratoath), Donal Keogan (Rathkenny); Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey), Brian Power (Ratoath), Shane McEntee (Dunboyne 0-1); Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Ronan Jones (Dunboyne 0-1); James McEntee (Curraha 0-1), Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey 0-1), Ruairí Ó Coileáin (Navan O’Mahonys); Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s 0-2), Sean Tobin (Simonstown 0-3 one '45'), Donal Lenihan (Dunboyne 0-3 two frees). Subs – James Toher (Trim) for Jones 15 mins, Brían Conlon (Simonstown) for Power half-time, Thomas O'Reilly (Wolfe Tones) for J McEntee 56m, Michael Newman (Kilmainham 0-2 frees) for Lenihan 61m, Donnacha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels) for Harnan 64m, Eamon Wallace (Ratoath) for O'Sullivan 74m.

Sligo - Aidan Devaney; Ross Donovan, Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch (1-1), Charlie Harrison; Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, John Kelly; Adrian McIntyre, Patrick O'Connor; Neil Ewing (0-1), Mark Breheny, Niall Murphy (0-1); Stephen Coen, Pat Hughes (0-1), Adrian Marren (0-4 three frees, one '45'). Subs – Noel Gaughan for Harrison 46 mins, Kyle Cawley for Kelly 48m, Kevin McDonnell for Breheny 53m, Stephen Gilmartin for McIntyre 66m, Christopher Davey for O'Connor 72m. Black card – B Egan (replaced by D Kelly (0-1) 57m),

Referee – Niall Mooney (Clare).