Meath make hay in the heavy rain

Expected service resumed at Aughrim today as Meath boosted their NHL Div 2A survival hopes with an impressive 0-20 to 0-11 victory over a determined Wicklow side.

Just six days ago Meath crumbled under the pressure exerted by Offaly, but today they were much better, playing with a determination, hunger and structure that was lacking last week.

Driven by that determination to prove that the defeat by Offaly was just a sub-par performance Meath were dominant from the off and even when Wicklow applied the pressure Nick Weir's side rode the storm and played sensible, constructive hurling which was built on doing the simple things right.

The thunderous rain that fell from five minutes before throw-in and for the entirety of the opening half failed to diminish the quality of Meath's hurling and when Wicklow failed to dent their opponents confidence with a strong opening quarter they sunk under a deluge of pressure.

The Meath performance wasn't without flaws. There were times when they tried to be too complicated and intricate with their play and ended up scrambling, but once they settled into their stride they were clearly the better side.

Meath dominated every line. Sean Geraghty was near flawless at the back, while Keith Keoghan, James Toher and especially James Kelly excelled both defensively and from a constructive point of view.

In midfield David Reilly's industry stood out and with excellent supply coming from deep Mark O'Sullivan was outstanding, while Jack Regan was also superb as he linked play brilliantly.

Despite being the better side it still took Meath until the 23rd minute, four minutes after the water break, to get their noses in front as Wicklow dug deep and caused plenty of problems.

The opening exchanges saw O'Sullivan, Paddy Conneely and Podge O'Hanrahan (free) cancel out scores from Eoin McCormack, Christy Moorehouse (free) and Andy O'Brien, who was denied a goal by Charlie Ennis sharp reflexes.

Wicklow stretched their lead to two points for the first time when Luke Evans and Moorehouse (free) made it 0-5 to 0-3 after 14 minutes, but then Meath upped the tempo and held their hosts scoreless for over 30 minutes.

Alan Douglas and Gavin McGowan pointed Meath level before the water break and in the second quarter three successive points from O'Hanrahan (two frees) and superb scores from O'Sullivan and Kelly boosted Meath to a 0-10 to 0-5 interval lead.

The incessant rainfall of the first-half was replaced by bright sunshine and dry conditions after the break, but Meath kept their foot on Wicklow's throat and eased to victory without ever really pulling away until the closing stages.

Points from Regan (free) and McGowan either side of an O'Brien free, which was Wicklow's first score since the 14th minute, extended Meath's lead to six points and they never looked in danger of letting that slip.

Wicklow did miss a couple of scorable frees in the third quarter, but there was always the sense that Meath were comfortable.

McGowan and Regan (free) pointed either side of another Moorehouse free to make it 0-14 to 0-7 and while Moorehouse did convert another free before the water break it was all one-way traffic.

Regan restored Meath's seven-point lead when play resumed and as both sides emptied their benches they traded scores with two frees from Regan and scores from Wayne Kinsella and Moorehouse maintaining the seven point cushion with five minutes remaining.

Wicklow needed goals, but Shane Whitty produced a great tackle to deny O'Brien and Meath could even afford the luxury of watching Regan's penalty being saved by Conor McNally. The penalty had been awarded after Michael Mangan's cynical foul inside the exclusion zone on Adam Gannon earned him a sin-binning for the closing stages.

Not distracted by failing to convert the penalty Regan clipped over another superb score and after Daniel Staunton closed Wicklow's account it was Gannon who marked his impressive cameo with two late points to put the cap on a fine Meath victory.

SCORERS

Meath - Jack Regan 0-6 five frees; Podge O'Hanrahan 0-4 three frees; Gavin McGowan 0-3; Adam Gannon 0-2; Mark O'Sullivan 0-2; Paddy Conneely 0-1; Alan Douglas 0-1; James Kelly 0-1.

Wicklow - Christy Moorehouse 0-5 frees; Andy O'Brien 0-2 one free; Eoin McCormack 0-1; Luke Evans 0-1; Wayne Kinsella 0-1; Daniel Staunton 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Charlie Ennis; Mickey Burke, Shane Whitty, Sean Geraghty; James Kelly, James Toher, Keith Keoghan; Padraig O’Hanrahan, David Reilly; Daithi McGowan, Jack Regan, Alan Douglas; Gavin McGowan, Mark O’Sullivan, Paddy Conneely. Subs - Eamonn O Donnchadha for D McGowan 55 mins, Stephen Morris for O'Hanrahan 59m, Adam Gannon for G McGowan, Damien Healy for O'Sullivan both 62m, Jack McGowan for Reilly 64m, Shane Brennan for Conneely, Ben McGowan for Burke both 72m.

Wicklow - Conor McNally; David Maloney, Michael Mangan, Martin O'Brien; Gary Byrne, John Henderson, Peter Keane; Jack Doyle, Luke Evans; Daniel Staunton, Andy Walsh, Eoin McCormack; Christy Moorehouse, Andy O'Brien, Michael Boland. Subs - Padraig Doran for Walsh half-time, Wayne Kinsella for Doyle, Torna Mulconry for Boland both 47 mins, Mark Murphy for Evans 55m, Matthew Traynor for McCormack 59m, Marc Lennon for Moorehouse, Warren Kavanagh for M O'Brien 72m.

Referee - Thomas Gleason (Dublin).