Meath boys lose again

Twice in the space of seven days I have witnessed Meath teams lose games they should have won. Last week it was the Meath senior footballers in a NFL Div 2 tie against Fermanagh and on Saturday last, it was the turn of the Meath VEC team in the All-Ireland inter-county semi-final at St Loman"s, Mullingar. Historically, Meath teams used to win games that perhaps they should have lost, but now the wheel appears to have turned full circle. Hopefully, it"s a trend that will be broken by Colm O"Rourke and his Meath team in next Sunday"s Leinster u-21 FC quarter-final against Dublin at Parnell Park. Saturday"s reversal at Mullingar was a heartbreaking result for the players and selectors who, collectively, have to shoulder some of the blame, but not all of it. Westmeath referee Sean Carroll was also culpable with some amazing decisions which ultimately favoured a Galway side which displayed admirable character to grind out a victory that for most of the game appeared the most unlikely outcome. For their grit and determination the Galway boys were worthy winners. However, Meath wasted too many gilt-edged chances, fell asleep for most of the second-half and, in the case of the selectors, they watched Galway"s influential centre-forward Fiach O Bearra roam unmarked and dictate the play for long periods. If ever a man-marking job was required, this was it, and it didn"t happen. The absence of Andrew Tormey from midfield was a huge handicap for Meath. The Donaghmore / Ashbourne player sustained a hand injury in the closing stages of the Leinster decider against Kildare at Dunganny a fortnight ago and on Saturday had to stand idly on the sideline with his arm in plaster. To put that forward as a reason for Meath"s demise would be unfair. The team packed plenty of talent and Galway"s response to that was a series of crude tackles and blatant fouls, especially on Conor Devereux, which earned harmless yellow cards for the perpetrators. The crudest tackle arrived close to the interval when Galway midfielder Aaron Connolly made absolutely no attempt to get the ball. Connolly dived, feet first, with his studs showing and took Niall Farrell at the ankles. It was very dangerous and Farrell needed attention. Player safety is supposed to be the referee"s main priority. This tackle should have produced a straight red, but the referee took the easy option and flashed yellow. Twice in the second-half, inside a minute, Galway players Andrew Burke and Sean Curran blatantly fouled Devereux, not in a dangerous manner, and received yellow cards. On each occasion it was an effective tactic as it prevented the possibility of a Meath score. It also provided enough evidence for the new experimental disciplinary rules to be retained, across the board. Galway"s second goal, at the beginning of the fourth-quarter, was also questionable. A free-out could have been awarded against full-forward Fiontan O Curraoin, either for charging or over-carrying the ball, but again, the Westmeath official saw nothing worthy of a free. That was O Curraoin"s second goal and it gave Galway a 2-5 to 0-10 lead. His first goal arrived seven minutes before the interval when he got a touch to a free from O Bearra which was awarded after Meath"s Sean Lynch earned a yellow card. Anthony Owens was similarly cautioned for a separate offence and both players were withdraw at the interval in favour of Eoin Hegarty and Ian Maguire which required a reshuffle in defence. Meath opened well and were ahead by 0-9 to 1-2 at the interval. That fortunate Galway goal was sufficient to provide a lifeline for the Connacht champions who had beaten Mayo in the provincial decider, the only game they had played. Liam Tolan constantly tormented the Galway rearguard and claimed three excellent points while Eamonn Bowe and Feilim Dowling each added a brace with Farrell and John Daly completing the tally. Tolan also went close to finding the net, but his effort shaved the outside of the post. In fairness to Galway, they displayed commendable determination to hang on for long periods as Meath attacked in waves and just wasted chances. Galway survived on crumbs and made the best of the limited chances they created. Meath goalkeeper Padraig Curran had to make two superb second-half saves, but ultimately O Curraoin found the net again and that paved the way to a remarkable recovery. Joe Breathnach sent over the winning point in injury-time. SCORERS Galway - F O Curraoin 2-0; F O Bearra 0-4; S Breathnach, A de Burca, E O Riagain 0-1 each. Meath - L Tolan 0-4 (two frees); E Bowe 0-3; F Dowling 0-2; S Kavanagh, J Daly, N Farrell 0-1 each. THE TEAMS Galway - S O Ceallaigh; S O Coinceanain, S O Cuirrin, C O Domhnaill; D O Finneadha, M O Curraoin, D O Maoileoin; A O Conghaile, C O hAllurain; J O Finn, F O Bearra, E O Riagain; A de Burca, F O Curraoin, S Breathnach. Sub - C O Cillin for O hAllurain (half-time). Meath - Padraig Curran; Sean Lynch, Thomas rahill, Anthony Owens; David Coyle, Stephen Kavanagh, Feilim Dowling; Bryan menton, Conor Devereux; Matthew Carroll, John Daly, Eamonn Bowe; Liam Tolan, Gavin Kennedy, Niall Farrell. Subs - Eoin hegarty for Owens, Ian Maguire for Lynch (both half-time), Sean MacConcharraige for Carrol (58m). THE REFEREE Sean Carroll (Westmeath)