Late goal breaks Meath hearts
LEINSTER MFC
Offaly ...............4-2-7 (23)
Meath ...............2-2-10 (20)
SEAN WALL
LESS than 24 hours after the Meath under-20s relinquished their provincial crown the county minor team bowed out of the Leinster FC campaign at the quarter final stage at Pairc Tailteann on Thursday evening.
It was a disappointing end for Joe Crowley’s charges that looked to have booked a semi-final spot after midfielder Charlie Gallagher landed a brilliant two-pointer to put Meath in front on 58 minutes.
However the concession of a fourth goal, scored by Offaly substitute Paddy Burns a minute later, proved decisive and the Faithful County sealed the victory with a two-pointer free converted by 'keeper Jack Ryan deep into added time.
The concession of goals proved costly for the hosts who struggled to match Offaly’s greater physicality and they were playing catch up for lengthy spells. The visitors had their opening goal within two minutes and they found the net again in the second quarter, a score that separated the sides’ at the break, Offaly leading 2-5 to 1-5.
Meath did reduce the deficit to the minimum by the 42nd minute but then Offaly hit a two-pointer and a goal in the space of 30 seconds to open up a six point gap. That left Meath facing an uphill battle but they showed tremendous resolve and an abundance of spirit to work themselves back into contention and set up an exciting finish after drawing level by the 54 minute.
Momentum was very much with them at that stage and when Gallagher lofted over from long range it looked as if it might be enough to seal their passage to the last four. Captain Cian McNamee was the initiator of that match-winning goal, playing a one-two with Dylan Dunne before Burns blasted to the net.
Offaly made a dream start to proceedings as Ruairi Woods toe-poked to the net on two minutes and Aaron Daly pointed from play. Meath hit back in emphatic fashion with a goal from Stephen Cahill who lofted a great effort over the head of 'keeper Ryan on seven minutes. A point from wing back Tadhg Foley left it level at 1-2 each and the teams exchanged points on two separate occasions after that.
Then Charlie Duffy scrambled an effort to the net after a Cathal Weldon shot had dropped short to regain the lead for the visitors. They added a point from McNamee before Stephen Cahill replied at the other end leaving three between the sides’ at the break.
Eamonn Maher hit the opening point of the second half but Meath then rattled off three successive points, two from Nathan Reilly frees and another from Cillian Murphy.
The game swung firmly in Offaly's favour in a 30-second spell as Ruairi Woods hit a two-pointer and Duffy struck for his second goal.
A two-pointer from sub Sean Delaney was just the boost that Meath needed at that stage and they were back to within a point after Cormac Murray fired to the net on 46 minutes.
McNamee (free) and Adam McEvoy traded points before the impressive Cahill shot the equaliser.
Meath were in the ascendancy when Gallagher pointed them ahead but they were unable to see the game out as their defence was breached again with that fourth goal the killer blow.
Offaly – Jack Ryan (0-2 two-point free); Caden O’Beirne, Tomas Carroll, Cormac Farrell; Patrick Duffy, Tadhg Kelly, Cathal Weldon; Eamon Maher (0-1), Eoin Rouse (0-1); Aaron Daly (0-1), Dylan Dunne, Charlie Duffy (2-1); Tony Furey, Cian McNamee (0-3 one free), Ruairi Woods (1-2 one two-pointer). Subs - Paddy Burns (1-0) for Furey 44m, Darragh Stewart for Weldon 51m, Stephen Byrne for C Duffy 59m, Cian Duffy for Dunne 60m.
Meath – Charlie Finnegan; Charlie O’Connor, Conall O’Sullivan, Glen Callaghan; Tadhg Foley (0-1), Eoghan McBrearty, Niall Lawless; Declan Byrne, Charlie Gallagher (0-2 one two-pointer); Will Byrne (0-1), Cillian Murphy (0-1), Robert Johnson; Cormac Murray (1-1), Stephen Cahill (1-2), Nathan Reilly (0-3 frees). Subs – Sean Delaney (0-2 two-pointer) for Johnson 38m, Adam McEvoy (0-1) for Reilly 44m, Lewis Ryan for Foley 46m, Jeff Foley for Byrne 51m.
Referee - Enda Kenny (Westmeath).