No changes for Meath ahead of promotion bid

Published: Sat 23 Mar 2019, 5:59 AM

Just 70 minutes stand between Meath and place in NFL Div 1 for 2020 and a final spot in Croke Park next Saturday and manager Andy McEntee has kept faith with the side that started the 1-12 to 1-7 win over Clare in Ennis for tomorrow's clash with Fermanagh in Pairc Tailteann, 2pm.
Despite limping out of the action after just nine minutes in Ennis Shane McEntee is named to start at midfield alongside Bryan Menton. However his hamstring issue will continue to be assessed up to throw-in time and if he fails to male the starting 15 then that could free up Barry Dardis or Adam Flanagan for a start.
James McEntee returned from injury to start against Clare after missing the wins over Cork and Kildare and he showed no ill-effects of the hamstring problems that also forced him to miss UCC's Sigerson Cup final win.
Shane Gallagher is once again named at wing back, but will probably take up a corner-back role, while Conor McGill, who has been in sensational form, could be tasked with the job of marshalling Fermanagh's danger man Sean Quigley.
Meath can afford to lose against Fermanagh and still go up. That outcome would leave both the Royals and the Ernesiders on 10 points and if Donegal were to take both points on offer when they host Kildare then they would also be on a similar tally.
A three-way tie would result at the summit, but Meath's scoring difference, currently +20, should be good enough to see them top the section.
A win for either Donegal or Kildare will see them step up if Meath defeat Fermanagh.
However Fermanagh could make the jump if they finish level against Meath and Kildare win in Ballyshannon.
That would leave both on nine points, but Rory Gallagher's would be promoted on the head-to-head standings.
A win for Fermanagh and any Donegal slip up at home to Kildare would also see a positive outcome for the Ernesiders.

Meath (v Fermanagh) - Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Shane Gallagher; Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee; Cillian O’Sullivan, Ethan Devine, Darragh Campion; Bryan McMahon, Michael Newman, Thomas O’Reilly. Subs - Marcus Brennan, Michael Burke, Adam Flanagan, Gavin McCoy, Graham Reilly, Eoin Lynch, Barry Dardis, Ben Brennan, James Conlon, Seán Curran, Padraic Harnan.