Royals rattle Rossies to move into promotion contention

NFL DIV 2

Dare to dream.

Meath recorded a statement 2-3-12 to 0-3-11 win over Roscommon at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday to claim their third successive NFL Div 2 victory and boost their promotion hopes ahead of nest Sunday's trip to Mullingar to take on Westmeath.

The decision to play into the teeth of the strong wind that blew into the O'Mahonys end proved to be an inspirational one from Meath captain Eoghan Frayne as the Royals defended brilliantly to limit Roscommon to just nine scores, three of which were two-pointers, in the opening half and then counter-attacked superbly with the wind at their backs.

Roscommon had no answer to the Meath blitz attack and two goals in the space of 30 seconds early in the second-half put the hosts in the driving seat and they never looked back even though Roscommon did manage to restore parity before three two-pointers in a row, two from Conor Duke and one from an Eoghan Frayne free, put the issue beyond doubt.

It looked ominous for Meath in the second minute when Ciarain Murtagh lofted over a two-pointer after a rare mistake from Sean Coffey, but despite playing against the wind Meath settled brilliantly.

Shane Walsh's blocked effort resulted in Billy Hogan hammering a '45' over the bar. Duke restored parity in the seventh minute before Jordan Morris landed a free and Hogan kicked another '45' to make it 0-4 to 0-2.

Enda Smith moved just inside the 40-metre arc before responding for Roscommon and after Morris missed a free and Ronan Jones hit the upright Meath were punished as Roscommon added four points to their tally with goalkeeper Conor Carroll kicking a two-pointer before Keith Doyle punched a dipping effort over and Cian McKeon found his range to make it 0-7 to 0-4 by the 18th minute.

Frayne settled Meath and ended their 10-minute spell with a score with a converted free before Morris closed the gap to the minimum with an excellent point.

Meath were let off the hook when a stray sideline ball by Hogan in Bryan Menton's direction was gathered by Smith who pointed, but the Royals responded with a brilliant move involving Jones, Ciaran Caulfield and Morris ended with Shane Walsh lofting over to make it 0-7 to 0-8.

A three-point haul from Dylan Ruane, including one two-pointer, was followed by a point from Keith Doyle as Roscommon opened up a five-point lead, but with the last attack of the half Meath broke swiftly and closed the gap to 0-8 to 0-12 with a superb score from Frayne.

With the wind at their backs Meath kicked three wides in the opening two minutes of the second-half and Roscommon punished that profligacy with scores from Smith and Ciarain Murtagh (free) stretching their lead to six points.

But then came the game changing 30 seconds as a magnificent dispossess by Sean Rafferty of Enda Smith set up the counter-attack which saw Walsh, Caulfield and Morris involved before Sean Coffey rifled to the net.

From the subsequent kickout Frayne found Jones and the St Peter's man blasted his third goal of the campaign to make it 2-8 to 0-14.

Another counter-attack two minutes later saw Caulfield set up Frayne to edged Meath ahead for the first time since the 10th minute.

Roscommon showed great patience to work an equaliser for McKeon, but Meath were in flying form and put the issue to bed between the 55th and 59th minutes when Duke and Frayne (free) both landed two-pointers and Caulfield also clipped over a point to make it 2-14 to 0-15.

Another two-pointer for Duke put seven between the sides, but Roscommon battled to preserve their 16-game unbeaten run in Div 2 that stretched back to 2020.

Conor Hand scored a fine point and the Connacht side were denied a goal by a magnificent scrambled save from Hogan to deny Diarmuid Murtagh.

Boosted by that let-off Aaron Lynch and Frayne (free) closed Meath's account and while Conor Cox did get a late free for Roscommon there was no way back for the visitors as marched on and in some style.

Meath - Billy Hogan (0-2 '45's); Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Donal Keogan; Adam O'Neill, Seán Coffey (1-0), Ciarán Caulfield (0-1); Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton, Conor Duke (0-5 two two-point), Jack Kinlough, Ronan Jones (1-0); Jordan Morris (0-2 one free), Shane Walsh (0-1), Eoghan Frayne (0-6 two frees, one two-point free). Subs - Brian O'Halloran for O'Neill 45m, Aaron Lynch (0-1) for Walsh 52m, Daithi McGowan for Jones 57m, Michael Murphy for Caulfield 70m.

Roscommon - Conor Carroll (0-2 two-point); Pearse Frost, John McManus, Niall Higgins; Shane Cunnane, Ruaidhri Fallon, Dylan Ruane (0-3 one two-point); Enda Smith (0-3), Keith Doyle (0-2); Ciarain Murtagh (0-3 one free, one two-point), Ultan Harney, Ronan Daly; Diarmuid Murtagh, Donie Smith, Cian McKeon (0-2). Subs - Shane Killoran for D Smith 29m, David Murray for Fallon, Conor Hand (0-1) for Daly both 45m, Ben O'Carroll for Harney 52m, Conor Cox (0-1 free) for C Murtagh 61m.

Referee - Joe McQuillan (Cavan).