Second-half stroll for Meath
Meath produced a devastating second-half display to secure the NFL Div 2 points with a comfortable 0-21 to 0-7 victory over Clare at Pairc Tailteann today.
At the end of an error-strewn opening half Meath led by two points, but there was little indication of the demolition to follow.
The opening half was a catalogue of missed chances for Meath starting in the early seconds when Graham Reilly fumbled possession when through on goals and his weak pull on the ground was easily gathered by Killian Roche.
Four minutes later Meath opened the scoring when a brilliant move involving Adam Flanagan and Shane McEntee ended with Reilly tapping over the bar.
The second missed chance for Meath came in the ninth minute when Padraig McKeever dropped a 13-metre free from out on the left into Roche's hands and that was the trend of the first-half as Meath dropped seven point attempts short into the Clare goalkeeper.
A late, high and heavy hit by Brian Power left Cillian Brennan prone and later replaced as the Ratoath man was lucky to get away with a yellow card and a minute later Meath squandered another goal chance when Flanagan robbed Cian O'Dea close to goals but lost control when clean through and the ball ran harmlessly wide.
Clare eventually got off the mark in the 14th minute when goalkeeper Roche converted a '45', but despite struggling to make it show on the scoreboard Meath were the better team with McKeever making it 0-2 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.
A quick free from Cathal O'Connor set Pearse Lillis free for Clare's leveler, but Meath's response was another fine point from the lively Reilly.
A Garryowen score from Jamie Malone restored parity for a third time in the 24th minute, but again Meath pressed and edged in front when James McEntee found his range.
As Meath continued to squander chance after chance Clare made the most of their limited opportunities when a Gary Brennan free after a harsh call against Power made it 0-4 each.
Another excellent intervention from Reilly gave Meath the lead for the fifth time and they made it 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time when Bryan McMahon pointed with the last kick of the half.
After their patch,y frustrating first-half showing Meath turned on the style after the break with a devastating performance.
Clare had a great chance to take the lead in the early seconds of the second period when Brennan was put through, but his rasping drive cleared the crossbar and with that missed goal chance went Clare's spirit.
Seven points in succession from McKeever (four), James McEntee, Bryan McMahon and Eamon Wallace put Meath into a commanding 0-13 to 0-5 lead before Brennan kicked a brilliant score to give the small band of travelling Clare fans something to cheer about.
That score was only temporary respite from the Meath onslaught as two more outstanding points from Eamon Wallace, a couple from Sean Tobin, another free from McKeever and a tap over for Reilly made it 0-19 to 0-6 as Clare lost O'Dea to a red card as he picked up a black card to add to an earlier yellow.
McKeever and McEntee added to Meath's tally before Clare clipped over the last score of the game when David Tubridy converted a 13-metre free to bring the curtain down on a dreadful showing from the Banner men.
Meath – Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Donal Keogan; Brían Conlon, Brian Power, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton, Adam Flanagan; James McEntee (0-3), Padraig McKeever (0-7 four frees), Graham Reilly (0-4); Joey Wallace, Cillian O'Sullivan, Bryan McMahon (0-2). Subs – Eamon Wallace (0-3) for J Wallace 32 mins, Dan O'Neill for Power half-time, Sean Tobin (0-2 one '45') for McMahon 53m, Caolach Halligan for Reilly 61m, Ben Brennan for O'Sullivan 62m, Shane Glynn for Keogan 64m.
Clare – Killian Roche (0-1 '45'); Cian O'Dea, Cillian Brennan, Gordon Kelly; Jamie Malone (0-1), Ciaran Russell, Pearse Lillis (0-1); Gary Brennan (0-3 one free), Cathal O'Connor; Aaron Fitzgerald, Eoin Cleary, Gearoid O'Brien; Conor Finucane, Keelan Sexton, Eimhin Courtney. Subs – Eoghan Collins for Brennan 15 mins, Alan Sweeney for Finucane 22m, Sean O'Donoghue for Courtney 45m, David Tubridy (0-1 free) for O'Brien 58m, Martin O'Leary forCleary 65m.
Referee – Sean Hurson (Tyrone).