Solid Meath performance augurs well for the future

Meath 3-11, Offaly 1-8 Meath qualified for the Leinster MFC semi-final against neighbours Westmeath with a merited quarter-final victory over Offaly at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday. Meath manager Andy McEntee made five changes to the team that negotiated Longford in the opening round and had to be pleased with the outcome as his players displayed tremendous resilience against a strong and well-regarded Offaly team. Goalkeeper Jack Hannigan, James O'Malley, Niall Kane, Paul Donnellan and Fiachra Ward all started at the expense of Robert Burlingham, David Toner, Eamonn Wallace, Stephen Coogan and Jason Daly. The absence of Wallace was a big disappointment for McEntee and his selectors as the Ratoath player had athletics commitments. All the changes worked out well and this victory, the manner in which it was achieved, will certainly give GAA enthusiasts in Meath a major boost ahead of the Leinster SFC this weekend. Meath had solid performers all over the pitch and looked good at the interval after they had fared well against the first-half wind. Meath were ahead at that stage by 1-3 to 0-5 following a determined performance that featured a lot of skill and a certain amount of steel against some robust Offaly challenges. Offaly finished the game with 14 players after Peter Cunningham picked up a second yellow card in second-half injury-time and the hosts also added some respectability to the scoreboard with a goal on the stroke of full-time. However, wind-assisted Offaly started smartly with points from Joseph Maher and Cunningham, but the Royals bounced back instantly with a well-worked Barry Dardis goal. James McEntee added a point and then Meath had another goal chance following a good move that involved Cillian O'Sullivan and Patrick Kennelly, but Dardis was unable to apply the finishing touch. Offaly got back on terms with points from Johnny Kavanagh and Maher, but they also wasted a number of scoring opportunities with some poor finishing. The hosts finished the half with seven wides and managed only one more first-half point, in the final minute from Ruairi McNamee while Meath added two more, Ruairi O Coileain from play and Fiachra Ward from a free. Ward made the most of his starting opportunity with a fine performance over the hour and has surely done enough to merit inclusion again the next day. Meath also enjoyed some good fortune in defence after a rash challenge from Declan Smyth earned the Dunsany player a yellow card. The resultant free produced a goalmouth scramble with Meath full-back Brian Power eventually clearing the danger after goalkeeper Hannigan parried the ball. Offaly resumed the second-half smartly with a brace of Maher points, but that was as good as it got for the hosts and when Ward made the opening for Kennelly's goal soon after it signalled the end of Offaly's challenge. Dardis added another goal and then a point from O'Sullivan helped Meath to a 3-4 to 0-7 third-quarter lead. Offaly kept going for goals when they could have taken points and that contributed to their demise as on each occasion Meath countered with points at the other end. Substitute Jason Daly added two, Ward also managed a brace, Dardis, James McEntee and another substitute Kevin Griffin also split the the posts. That late flourish from Offaly failed to dull the gloss of a very impressive Meath performance. Meath - Jack Hannigan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Declan Smyth (Dunsany), Brian Power (Ratoath), James O'Malley (Navan O'Mahonys); Niall Kane (Simonstown Gaels), Shane McEntee (Dunboyne/Kilbride), Ruairi O Coileain (Dunsany 0-1); Padraig Harnan (Jenkinstown Gaels), Adam Flanagan (Clonard); Cillian O'Suliivan (Jenkinstown Gaels 0-1), Paul Donnellan (Walterstown), James McEntee (St Vincent's / Curraha 0-2); Barry Dardis (Summerhill 2-1), Patrick Kennelly (Dunderry 1-0), Fiachra Ward (Wolfe Tones 0-3 one free). Subs - Anthony Neary (Na Fianna) for Kane half-time, Jason Daly (Dunboyne/Kilbride 0-2) for Donnellan 45 mins, Stephen Coogan (Dunderry) for Kennelly 53m, Conor O'Brien (Skryne) for Dardis 56m, Kevin Griffin (Clann na nGael 0-1) for J McEntee 57m. Offaly - C Clancy; S Moriarty, J Quinn, B Grehan; E Carroll, L Kelly, D Corbett; C Cahill, C McNamee; J Kavanagh (0-1), O Cusack, P Cunningham (0-2); R McNamee (0-1), J Maher (1-4), R Reynolds. Sub - M Kirwan for Corbett 32 mins. Referee - John Hickey (Carlow).