Clann na nGael stun Meath Hill to claim quarter-final spot

Ruthless efficiency was the key as Clann na nGael recovered from a slow start to see off Meath Hill by 3-8 to 1-7 at Pairc Tailteann this evening and book their place in the IFC quarter-final against Ballinabrackey.

Trailing by three points at the break, Clann na nGael took advantage of Meath Hill indiscipline that saw them lose Barry Kieran to a black card and finish with just 12 players after Paddy Matthews was issued with a 57th minute black card and both Ryan Owens and Kieran Slavin saw red in injury-time.

Meath Hill managed just one point after the break as Clann na nGael suffocated their attack and left them living off scraps while hitting them with some superb counter-attacking moves.

Meath Hill didn't have enough up front to consistently worry the 2019 JFC champions. Once Clann na nGael got to grips with the dangerous Tommy Rooney they nullified the threat and assumed control after the resumption to run out comfortable winners.

Meath Hill looked set to claim the quarter-final place as they dominated the early stages, but scores were hard to come by before Rooney converted a ninth minute free after he had been fouled.

Four minutes later Rooney had the ball in the net. Diarmuid O Donnchadha was dispossessed by Pearse McGrath following a short kickout from Eoin Griffin and he passed to Rooney whose initial effort was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly and he made no mistake with his second chance.

Darragh Swaine opened Clann na nGael's account from a free in the 15th minute, but it was all Meath Hill at that stage with Jack McMahon, Rooney from a mark and Jason Yorke (free) on target to stretch their lead to 1-4 to 0-1 by the 22nd minute.

Daragh Griffin settled Clann na nGael with a fisted score, but Harry Corscadden raced upfield from corner-back to restore Meath Hill's six-point cushion with an excellent point.

It looked desperate for Clann na nGael, but Philip Garry produced a brilliant run at the heart of the Meath Hill defence before crossing to the unmarked Eamon O Donnchadha who palmed to the net from close range.

Daragh Griffin and James Mooney exchanged scores as Meath Hill took a 1-6 to 1-3 lead to the interval.

Cian Swaine narrowed that deficit five minutes after the restart, but then things started to go horribly wrong for Meath Hill.

Kieran was black carded following a foul on Daragh Griffin and Darragh Swaine made no mistake from the 13-metre free to close the gap to the minimum.

Mooney responded with a brilliant point, but that was Meath Hill's only score of the half as Clann na nGael capitalised on their numerical advantage with Doherty palming to the net after outstanding work from Diarmuid O Donnchadha to make it 2-5 to 1-7.

Cian Swaine and Eamon O Donnchadha added further points to stretch Clann na nGael's lead to 2-7 to 1-7 before Shane McCabe came back on for Kieran at the end of his spell in the sin-bin.

Another Darragh Swaine free put daylight between the sides and after Meath Hill lost Matthews to a black card they conceded a third goal with Tom Hanley palming to the net after great work by Ryan Carry.

Owens picked up his second yellow card and subsequent red almost immediately and in the space of a couple of minutes Slavin collected two yellow cards to leave Meath Hill down to 12 players and out of the championship as Clann na nGael march on.

SCORERS

Clann na nGael – Eamon O Donnchadha 1-1; Tom Hanley 1-0; Jack Doherty 1-0; Darragh Swaine 0-3 frees; Daragh Griffin 0-2; Cian Swaine 0-2.

Meath Hill – Tommy Rooney 1-2 one frees, one mark; James Mooney 0-2; Jason Yorke 0-1 free; Jack McMahon 0-1; Harry Corscadden 0-1.

TEAMS

Clann na nGael – Eoin Griffin; Rory Tuite, Jack Doherty, Carl Kelly; Conor Fenton, John Farrell, Micheal Coffey; Darragh Griffin, Cian Swaine; Ryan McNamee, Philip Garry, Eamon O Donnchadha; Diarmuid O Donnchadha, Darragh Swaine, Tom Hanley.

Meath Hill - Dominic Yorke; Harry Corscadden, Martin Tully, Barry Kieran; James Mooney, Kieran Slavin, Thomas Carolan; Keith Ginnitty, Paddy Matthews; Conor Marry, Jack McMahon, Jason Yorke; Ryan Owens, Tommy Rooney, Pearse McGrath. Sub – Shane McCabe for Kieran 47 mins.

Referee – Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).