Youthful Meath exit O'Byrne Cup race

Even in defeat (1-14 to 2-14) there was plenty for Meath to be encouraged about as they pushed defending champions Longford to the final whistle of tonight's O'Byrne Cup semi-final in Ashbourne.

With none of the side that started the Tailteann Cup final win and only two of the team that started against Louth six days earlier Meath were very inexperienced and youthful against a strong Longford side, but they showed plenty of endeavour, skill and tenacity - traits that suggest they could force their way into Colm O'Rourke's long term plans.

It was one of Meath's more experienced campaigners, Diarmuid Moriarty, who impressed most with a personal return of 1-4, all from play, but he wasn't alone as six different players got on the scoresheet with 1-10 of the tally coming from play.

Cathal Finnegan accounted for Meath's four frees, he also chipped in with two points from play in a lively display on his first start for the senior side.

Despite the defeat and the ease of the concession of the two goals, Meath can be pleased with their display.

They played entertaining football. Swift, off the shoulder running and neat intricate one-twos mixed with penetrative long balls and decent off the ball movement caused Longford plenty of problems.

Danny Dixon was impressive at midfield, while Diarmuid McCabe, Brian O'Halloran and Brian O'Reilly also had decent spells.

Meath were grateful to goalkeeper Harry Hogan for staying in the game in the opening half as he made a number of decent stops to deny Longford goals that could have finished the game early.

With just two minutes of the 70 remaining, Meath were only a point adrift and very much in contention to produce a shock win, but Longford took advantage of some generous refereeing and broke from defence to kick two late points to wrap up the win.

Meath started well and contained the lively Longford attack. Scores were hard to come by after Meath opened the scoring through Moriarty in the fifth minute.

Longford kicked wide after wide before Finnegan doubled Meath's advantage from a free in the 13th minute.

Longford's laid siege on the Meath goals, but were denied when Michael Flood cleared Darren Gallagher's effort off the line, but the goal finally came in the 15th minute when Hogan's save from Joseph Hagan's effort fell kindly to Jayson Matthews who pulled on the loose ball to fire it to the net.

Keelin McGann stretched Longford's narrow lead 90 seconds later and it looked as if the youthful Meath side might crumble.

However instead of capitulating Meath steadied again with Finnegan restoring parity with a brace of points (one free). In the 20th minute Daire Rowe clipped over a fine score to restore the hosts lead and further scores from Danny Dixon from 44 metres and Jack O'Connor after great work by O'Reilly stretched Meath's lead to 0-7 to 1-1.

That three point advantage was maintained after Matthews and Finnegan (free) traded scores, but Meath tired as the half drew to a close and failed to score in the closing 10 minutes of the period.

Longford managed to draw level with frees from Gallagher and Hagan and one from play from McGann, before they took a giant step forward with a second goal when Gallagher cut through to the heart of the Meath defence and fired to the net.

Gallagher added a free a minute into injury-time to ensure a 2-6 to 0-8 lead for the Midlanders.

Fears that Meath might struggle to maintain the pace of the game were unfounded as they impressed in the third quarter, outscoring Longford by 1-3 to 0-2 to draw level.

Dylan Farrell opened Longford's second-half account two minutes after the restart, but Meath never panicked.

Finnegan pulled a point back and O'Halloran was denied a debut goal by a great block.

Finnegan added another pointed free and after Daire Duggan was black-carded for Longford Meath made hay with Moriarty executing a brilliant finish to the net after a fine run to make it 1-10 to 2-7.

Hagan edged Longford ahead again, but Moriarty again restored parity to close the third quarter, 1-11 to 2-8.

As Meath emptied the bench and legs became tired Longford took advantage to move two points clear with pointed frees from Gallagher and Matthews, but again the Royals never gave up and pulled one back from Moriarty.

Further points from Cathal McCabe and Matthews looked to have pushed Longford into the winner's enclosure, but still Meath kept at it.

Keith Curtis (free) and Moriarty made it a one point game as the end approached, but in the closing stages Farrell and Bryn Peters fired over the insurance scores to wrap up the win for Longford and book their place in next Saturday's final.

For Meath, attentions now turn towards Fermanagh in the opening round of the NFL Div 2, starting with tomorrow's challenge match against Galway.

SCORERS

Longford - Jayson Matthews 1-3 one free; Darren Gallagher 1-3 three free; Keelin McGann 0-2; Joseph Hagan 0-2 one free; Dylan Farrell 0-2; Cathal McCabe 0-1; Bryn Peters 0-1.

Meath - Diarmuid Moriarty 1-4; Cathal Finnegan 0-6 four frees; Daire Rowe 0-1; Danny Dixon 0-1; Jack O'Connor 0-1; Keith Curtis 0-1 free.

TEAMS

Longford - Patrick Collum; Barry O'Farrell, Oisin O'Toole, Bryan Masterson; Keelin McGann, Ryan Moffett, Iarla O'Sullivan; Darren Gallagher, Daire Duggan; Daniel Reynolds, Michael Quinn, Joseph Hagan; Daniel Mimnagh, Jayson Matthews,, Cathal McCabe. Subs - Dylan Farrell, Dessie Reynolds, Bryn Peters, Micheal Hughes, Conor Keenan, Michael Quinn, Diarmuid Farrell, Jordan Shiels, Dylan Lynch, Jayson Matthews, James Kiernan, Ronan Kavanagh, Ruairi Harkin.

Meath - Harry Hogan (Longwood); Brian O'Halloran (Ballivor), Michael Flood (St Brigid's), Brian O'Reilly (St Michael's); John O'Regan (Skryne), Niall Murphy (Curraha), Adam McDonnell (Summerhill); Diarmuid Moriarty (Curraha), Danny Dixon (Boardsmill); Jack O'Connor (Curraha), Conor Farrelly (Walterstown), Diarmuid McCabe (Summerhill); Daire Rowe (Syddan), Cathal Finnegan (Seneschalstown), Keith Curtis (Rathkenny). Subs - Brendan McKeon (Ballivor) for McDonnell, Sean Ryan (St Peter's) for Flood both half-time, Liam Stafford (St Colmcille's) for Farrelly 45m, Conor Frayne (Summerhill) for Rowe 52m, James Conlon (St Colmcille's) for Finnegan 55m, Billy Hogan (Longwood) for Murphy 68m.

Referee - Colm McCullagh (Louth).