Late rush seals deal for Meath

Meath 1-15 Kildare 0-13

A six-minute purple patch in the final quarter that yielded a goal and four points for Meath proved the critical juncture of this Division 2 outing at Páirc Tailteann.

Kildare were leading by two points, having scored three consecutive points, but pointed frees by Brian Farrell and Shane O’Rourke either side of the impressive Graham Reilly’s second point pushed the home side in front, 0-13 to 0-12.

Then came the 63rd-minute goal and it was a calamitous concession from the Kildare viewpoint.

Farrell launched a kick for a point from around 30m out on the right wing but didn’t get enough purchase on it. Unfortunately for Kildare goalkeeper, Paul Flood, he misjudged the flight of the ball completely, jumping under it as it flew all the way to the net.

Suddenly what had been a lively second half after a mundane opener, was completely deflated.

Farrell added a free and though John Doyle kicked his eighth point in response, the magnificent Joe Sheridan drove over his fourth from play to confirm the Royals’ victory.

The irony of the result was that in scoring terms, Meath had the better of Kildare in the second half, when Kieran McGeeney’s side probably dominated the play.

It was similar in the opening period. Meath controlled it for all bar the final five minutes, claiming a lion’s share of the possession but failing to produce the dividends they should have.

Surprisingly, they opted not to rain ball on top of the towering O’Rourke and Jamie Queeney, who had distinct height advantages over their direct opponents, and went in at the break trailing by a point, 0-8 to 0-7.

Kildare struggled to gain any foothold at midfield and were hanging on at times as O’Rourke, Sheridan, Queeney and Niall Mooney helped themselves to scores.

The visitors stayed in touch through Doyle - who despite his personal tally, had an mixed bag with the boot, kicking six wides - and a sensational point from full-back Hugh McGrillen.

Sheridan’s second point three minutes from half time gave Meath a 0-7 to 0-5 advantage.

Kildare had finally begun winning some breaks around midfield by this stage through Keith Cribbin and Anthony Rainbow and with the returning Alan Smith showing well, they finished strongly with points from Ronan Sweeney and a Doyle brace.

Reilly restored parity in a matter of seconds after the resumption but Kildare were a different side now. It was nip and tuck until that period at the end of the third quarter, when Sweeney beat three men before shooting just over. Two Doyle frees and it looked like Kildare might pull away.

Meath were having none of it though and in a matter of minutes they had turned this tie around in decisive fashion.

Meath: D Lyons; S McAnarney, J Macken, E Harrington; G Reilly 0-2, A Moyles, G O’Brien; M Ward, C Gillespie; S Kenny, J Sheridan 0-4, N Mooney 0-1; S Bray, J Queeney 0-3(1 45, 1f), S O’Rourke 0-2(1f). Subs: B Regan 0-1 for Ward (ht); P Byrne for Mooney (52); B Farrell 1-2(0-2fs) for Queeney (52); C King for O’Brien (58); M Burke for Moyles (65)

Kildare: P Flood; G White, H McGrillen 0-1, E Bolton; K Cribbin, B Flanagan, M O’Flaherty; D Flynn 0-2, D Whyte; E Callaghan, A Rainbow, R Sweeney 0-3; J Doyle 0-8(5fs), J Kavanagh, A Smith. Sub: P Kelly for Flanagan (19); K Donnelly for Rainbow (61); P O’Neill for Callaghan (62)

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois)