Heartbreak for Meath as Donegal shade verdict

On this occasion fortune didn't favour the brave as Meath exited the All-Ireland SFC race by the narrowest of margins following a heartbreaking 1-14 to 1-15 loss to Donegal in a thriller in Pairc Tailteann this evening.

When Donal Lenihan lofted over his seventh free on the stroke of 70 minutes to level the game, Meath looked capable of kicking on. However Donegal's patient game yielded a late, late score for Paddy McBrearty and although Donal Keogan found a yard of space in front of the posts a minute later he delayed his shot and the chance was gone.

It summed up Meath's evening. They played some outstanding football, but found the flooded Donegal defences difficult to breach with nobody able to fire more than one point from play.

It was far from a polished performance from Meath, but there were enough signs of encouragment to offer hope for the future. Unfortunately that future won't commence until next February as Meath must sit back and watch the rest battle for the Sam Maguire.

The teams were tied 11 times in a pulsating encounter with Donegal outscoring Meath 1-10 to 1-7 from play, but it was the manner of Meath's approach that impressed and thrilled the huge crowd.

They never took an unnecessary backward step. The game was played with the head up looking for openings and although they were difficult to come by they never stopped trying.

However it was the patience and pace of Donegal that eventually proved to be Meath's undoing.

Like the Lions or All-Blacks earlier in the day, they were content to play the ball through the phases until Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher or Eoin McHugh burst off the shoulder to break the gain line and set up a scoring chance.

That penetration was lethal and while Meath defended it bravely and stoutly for long periods, they couldn't withstand it for ever and ultimately it proved decisive.

Meath played the more adventurous football in the opening period and took the lead in the fifth minute when Cillian O'Sullivan was fouled after turning Neil McGee and Donal Lenihan converted from 13 metres.

A patient build-up, which was the theme of the evening for Donegal, led to Jason McGee's equaliser as he sidestepped Brían Conlon before firing over.

From the kickout Graham Reilly claimed possession and surged forward to fire over via both uprights to edge Meath ahead again and a minute later Ruairi O Coileain pointed brilliantly to double the hosts advantage.

A careless foul by Shane McEntee on Paddy McBrearty gifted McBrearty a simple free and after Lenihan missed a decent chance for Meath Donegal countered with a quick kickout and restored parity with Michael Murphy finding his range.

Donegal went close to going in front in the 16^th minute, but Hugh McFadden's fisted attempt hit the upright and it was O Coileain who cleared the danger.

A minute later Paddy O'Rourke spilled possession at the expense of a '45', but again Donegal hit the upright with Donal Keogan reacting quickest to clear Murphy's attempt.

A converted free from Lenihan, after he had been fouled, made it 0-4 to 0-3 in the 19^th minute and four minutes later Lenihan had another attempt stopped from crossing the bar by Mark Anthony McGinley.

A late push by Keogan on Eoghan Ban Gallagher gifted McBrearty with his second free and when Murphy pointed from over 40 metres a minute later Donegal were in front for the first time, 0-5 to 0-4.

O'Sullivan levelled it again in the 27^th minute as Meath continued to play some enterprising football, but it was errors going forward that allowed Donegal stretch to a 0-7 to 0-5 lead as firstly Reilly lost possession and McBrearty pointed and then Padraic Harnan's pass was intercepted by Eoin McHugh which helped Donegal set up Jason McGee for a point.

A brilliant intervention by Conor McGill prevent Eoin McHugh getting in for a goal chance and on the counter-attack Keogan surged forward to make it 0-6 to 0-7.

Then came the moment that led to the Donegal management confronting referee Derek O'Mahoney at half-time. Murphy took advantage of a push on Bryan Menton to claim possession, he then set up Ryan McHugh who centred to McFadden who was waiting in the square to palm to the net.

After consultation with his umpires O'Mahoney disallowed the goal and Meath were off the hook. From Meath's next attack Donegal's continued protestations led to a Lenihan free being moved into a scorable position and the Dunboyne man made no mistake to ensure parity at the break, 0-7 each.

Meath edged ahead again 90 seconds after the restart when brilliant defending by Shane McEntee set Conlon free and he was fouled. Lenihan converted and Meath were in front, but they just couldn't shake off Donegal.

A silly foul by Shane McEntee on Eoin McHugh gifted Murphy a free, but Meath continued to press forward and looked like pulling clear when another free from Lenihan was followed by an excellent point for Shane McEntee which made it 0-10 to 0-8 in the 47^th minute.

Murphy and Lenihan traded points to maintain Meath's two-point cushion to the 53^rd minute, but Donegal were still dangerous.

A brilliant block by Conor McGill prevented acertain goal for Jamie Brennan, but then two points from McBrearty and one for Frank McGlynn in a four minute spell had Donegal 0-12 to 0-11 ahead.

An outstanding score from James McEntee levelled it for the eighth time, but as the clock ticked beyond the hour mark Donegal struck for their goal.

Ryan McHugh started it and finished it as he beat O Coileain to the ball and then linked up with Eoin McHugh, Martin McElhinney and Gallagher before palming to the net from close range.

Meath's response was emphatic. James McEntee created an opening with a brilliant run, but his effort was stopped by the Donegal masses. However O'Sullivan was close on hand to pounce and fired the equaliser to the net to make it 1-12 each.

Bryan Menton became Meath's eighth different scorer when he edged the Royals ahead in the 65^th minute, but a silly foul by O'Sullivan earned him a black card and gift McBrearty another equaliser.

Murphy and Lenihan traded frees before the 70 minutes expired, but it was Donegal's patience that got them over the line as McBrearty held his nerve to fire the winning score and send the Ulster men into round 4A.

Donegal – Mark Anthony McGinley; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Caolan Ward; Ryan McHugh (1-0), Frank McGlynn (0-1), Eogan Ban Gallagher; Jason McGee (0-2), Ciaran Thompson; Kieran Gillespie, Martin O'Reilly, Eoin McHugh; Paddy McBrearty (0-7 three frees), Michael Murphy (0-5 two frees), Hugh McFadden. Subs – Martin McElhinney for Thompson 42 mins, Jamie Brennan for McFadden 47m, Karl Lacey for O'Reilly 57m, Mark McHugh for McGlynn 59m. 

Meath - Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keogan (0-1), Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; Padraic Harnan, Brian Power, Shane McEntee (0-1); Bryan Menton (0-1), Brían Conlon; James McEntee (0-1), Cillian O’Sullivan (1-1), Graham Reilly (0-1); Ruairí Ó Coileáin (0-1); Sean Tobin, Donal Lenihan (0-7 frees). Subs – Mickey Newman for Tobin half-time, Donnacha Tobin for S McEntee 60m.

Black card – C O'Sullivan (replaced by Eamon Wallace 66m). 

Referee – Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary).