Meath off and running in Tailteann Cup

It took a while to get going, but once Meath found their flow they opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with a resounding 1-19 to 0-11 victory over Tipperary at Pairc Tailteann this evening.

Over three months since their last competitive win, Meath looked nervous and ponderous in the opening half, but with a ringing in their ears and a boost of invention with the introduction of Thomas O'Reilly they looked more lively.

After the drudgery of the opening half Meath kicked for home with a 1-3 scoring boost in the opening eight minutes of the second period and with Stephen O'Brien limping out of the action seconds after the restart Tipperary's already weakening challenge waned altogether.

O'Reilly's introduction was central to Meath's improved showing in the second period. He brought more intensity and invention and his form inspired those around him.

With O'Reilly around Meath's attack looked more potent. They looked more capable of opening up a Tipperary defence that grew more weary as the game wore on.

Jack O'Connor's pace got Meath going in the second-half and the purple patch concluded with Aaron Lynch blasting to the net to make it 1-10 to 0-5 and it was effectively game over.

A dull uninspiring opening half never ignited as neither side could raise their levels above mediocrity.

Meath did have an early goal chance to lay down a significant marker, but after good play by Mathew Costello and Sean Coffey Ronan Jones shot tamely at Mikey O'Reilly from close range.

Boosted by that save Mikey O'Reilly proved he was no slouch from placed balls as he converted a 46 metre free.

Meath were unable to match the Tipperary goalkeeper'ss efforts as Costello dropped a 35 metre free short, despite having the light breeze at his back.

Mikey O'Reilly was on the mark again in the 11th minute when he landed a '45' to double Tipperary's lead and a minute later Stephen O'Brien claimed and converted a mark to stretch the visitors lead to 0-3 to 0-0.

Meath lacked, punch, panache and pressure, but they did eventually get off the mark in the 13th minute when Costello fisted over under intense defensive pressure.

Three minutes later a good move involving Padraic Harnan, Coffey, Cillian O'Sullivan and Lynch set up Jordan Morris who made it a one-point game and in the 19th minute Jack Flynn converted a 45 metre free to restore parity for the first time.

O'Brien edged Tipperary ahead with his side's first from play, but that was their last score of the half as Meath upped the tempo and applied just about enough pressure to put their visitors on the back foot.

Conor Gray marked his debut with a fine point and then Morris gave Meath the lead for the first time in the 29th minute.

Jack O'Connor doubled the Royals advantage and while Meath did drop a couple of other efforts short and kick a few really poor wides they did take a 0-7 to 0-4 interval lead when Lynch converted a free after he had been fouled.

The third quarter surge started with O'Connor on the mark. Another incisive move led to a score from Morris.

Tipperary were denied a goal when Ronan Ryan produced a sensational block to deny Stephen Quirke and on the counter Meath pressed for their opening goal but had to settle for another Morris point after Costello lost possession.

The goal did arrive in the 44th minute when Costello claimed a poor kickout, laid off to Morris who picked out Lynch for a fine finish from close range - game, set and match.

Liam McGrath replied for Tipperary, but Meath remained in control and hit three of the next four points with Keogan, Costello (free) and Lynch, from an excellent mark, cancelling out a Jack Kennedy score to stretch the lead to 1-13 to 0-7.

Kennedy stopped the rot with another fine score for the visitors, but Meath remained in command with Costello (free) and O'Reilly pointing either side of a Rory Collins free to make it 1-15 to 0-9.

After Colman Kennedy pointed Meath hit the next three points with O'Reilly (two) and Lynch on target.

Mark Russell closed Tipperary's account, but there was still time for Donal Lenihan to open his account and for Jordan Morris to pick up a second yellow card, but it was Meath who got their campaign up and running.

SCORERS

Meath - Aaron Lynch 1-3 one free, one mark; Jordan Morris 0-4; Mathew Costello 0-3 two frees; Thomas O'Reilly 0-3; Jack Flynn 0-1 free; Conor Gray 0-1; Jack O'Connor 0-2; Donal Keogan 0-1; Donal Lenihan 0-1.

Tipperary - Jack Kennedy 0-3 one '45'; Stephen O'Brien 0-2 one mark; Michael O'Reilly 0-2 one free, one '45'; Liam McGrath 0-1; Rory Collins 0-1 free; Colman Kennedy 0-1; Mark Russell 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Michael Flood; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Gray; Cillian O'Sullivan, Jack Flynn, Jack O'Connor; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs - Thomas O'Reilly for Flynn half-time, Harry O'Higgins for O'Neill 49mins, Daithi McGowan for Jones, Cathal Hickey for O'Connor both 59m, Donal Lenihan for O'Sullivan 60m.

Tipperary - Michael O'Reilly; Shane O'Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Willie Eviston; Kevin Fahey, Colm O'Shaughnessy, Keith Ryan; Paudie Feehan, Colman Kennedy; Teddy Doyle, Jack Kennedy, Cathal Deely; Mikey O'Shea, Stephen Quirke, Stephen O'Brien. Subs - Rory Collins for Deely 9 mins, Sean O'Connor for O'Brien 36 mins, Mark Russell for Doyle, Liam McGrath for O'Shea both 45m, Conall Kennedy for Feehan 59m,

Referee - Brendan Griffin (Kerry).

Full match report and reaction from Colm O'Rourke and Ronan Ryan in Tuesday's Meath Chronicle.