Meath avoid Sligo slip-up
Meath’s voyage into the West proved to be a fruitful adventure as they made it back-to-back victories in NHL Div 2B following a hard-fought 0-22 to 1-13 victory over Sligo in Markievicz Park this afternoon, writes Davy Rispin.
Padraig O’Hanrahan was in outstanding form once again for the Royals, contributing 15 points from Meath’s tally of 22 in a five-star display.
Seoirse Bulfin’s charges were tested from start to finish against their dogged hosts who provided a stern test. The loss of Seanie Geraghty and Eamonn Óg Ó Donnchadha due to injury and illness respectively pitted with the suspension of Damien Healy meant Bulfin had to dip deep into his reserves.
Perhaps the 276km early morning bus journey to Sligo played a part but Meath were comprehensively second best in the early exchanges.
Four points in the opening six minutes, all from the hurl of Andrew Kilcullen from placed balls, had Padraig Mannion’s men in the ascendency and but for a superb stop from Meath captain Charlie Ennis, Kilcullen may also have had a goal.
The visitors did settle soon after and hit five of the next six scores to ease themselves into the contest. O’Hanrahan opened his account on the eighth minute from a free with the lively Nicky Potterton finding his range shortly after to reduce the deficit to two after 10 minutes, 0-2 to 0-4.
Kilcullen hit his first from play to re-establish the three-point buffer for the Yeats County side but a trio of Meath scores from O’Hanrahan (two) and fine effort from a difficult angle from Niall McLarnon levelled the sides up at the end of the opening quarter.
Ennis once again produced a magnificent point blank save to deny Conor Hanniffy, but Kilcullen did convert a free and 65’ shortly after the goal chance to give his side the edge prior to O’Hanrahan notching another free to leave the minimum between the teams with 20 minutes on the clock, 0-6 to 0-7.
Tomás Cawley struck a monster point for Sligo to put two between the sides but a dominant spell from Meath yielded six successive points.
Four frees from the flawless O’Hanrahan along with a brace of fine efforts from play from Pa Ryan and O’Hanrahan handed Meath a 0-12 to 0-8 lead in the lead-up to half time. Sligo’s sole riposte before the interval, a monster free from Diarmuid Hanniffy, helped to keep them in touch at the break.
The stop-start nature of the contest continued early in the second half with O’Hanrahan and Hanniffy exchanging a brace of frees apiece.
Sligo’s persistence was rewarded eventually when Joe McHugh ghosted in behind James Kelly and at the third time of asking, the excellent Ennis was beaten with an emphatic finish from the Sligo attacker to level the sides up again, 1-11 to 0-14 with 43 minutes on the clock.
Meath’s profligacy proved to be the encouragement Sligo needed with Kilcullen nosing them in front once again with a free. O’Hanrahan quickly restored parity with a free of his own but Meath’s wastefulness was becoming a feature of the game illustrated by the 14 wides across the 70 minutes.
With the breeze at their back, Meath did eventually assume control with a trio of points. The hard working midfield partnership of Martin Healy and Ryan were rewarded for their endeavors with scores sandwiched either side of yet another O’Hanrahan free to help Meath to a three-point advantage entering the final 10 minutes.
However for the second week on the trot, Meath were reduced to 14 players for the closing stages. Kyle Donnelly, who enjoyed another fine outing up to that, was issued a straight red card for an off the ball incident.
Kilcullen lofted over his ninth point of the day to reduce the margin to two but credit Meath who bolted for the finish line with an impressive finish.
Substitute Jack Regan announced his arrival with a beautiful long range effort and this was quickly followed by equally impressive points from Ryan and O’Hanrahan.
Fittingly, O’Hanrahan had the last say when he curled over his 15th point of the day deep into stoppage time to ensure there would no late drama.
SCORERS
Meath - Padraig O’Hanrahan 0-15 12 frees; Pa Ryan 0-3; Niall McLarnon 0-1; Nicky Potterton 0-1; Jack Regan 0-1; Martin Healy 0-1.
Sligo - Andrew Kilcullen 0-9 six frees, two 65’s; Diarmuid Hanniffy 0-3 frees; Joe McHugh 1-0; Tomás Cawley 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Charlie Ennis; Stephen Morris, Adam O’Connor, Brendan McKeon; Kyle Donnelly, James Toher, James Kelly; Pa Ryan, Martin Healy; Simon Ennis, Nicky Potterton, Niall McLarnon; Sean Quigley, Mikey Cole, Padraig O’Hanrahan. Subs - Mickey Burke for O’Connor 42m, Jack Regan for M Cole 46m, Paddy Barnwell for Ennis 56m, Joey Cole for Potterton 72m, Tom Shine for Quigley 72m.
Sligo - Luke Comerford; Darragh Cawley, James Weir, Kevin O’Kennedy; Niall Feehily, Rory McHugh, Ronan Molloy; Niall Kilcullen, Fionn Connolly; Conor Hanniffy, Eddie O’Donoghue, Tomás Cawley; Diarmuid Hanniffy, Andrew Kilcullen, Joe McHugh. Sub - Liam O’Kelly Lynch for O’Donoghue 71m.
Referee - Camon Flynn (Westmeath).
MORE PHOTOS AND REACTION FROM MANAGER SEOIRSE BULFIN AND PLAYERS PA RYAN AND PODGE O'HANRAHAN IN TUESDAY'S MEATH CHRONICLE