Meath set the pace against Sligo

Meath 1-12 Sligo 0-8

14-man Meath overcame Sligo at Navan to register their first win in Allianz NFL Division 2.

Brian Farrell tapped home a loose ball for a 12th minute goal, after Joe Sheridan’s initial shot had been blocked.

Sligo were 1-07 to 0-03 behind at half-time, with Adrian Marren scoring their only point from play.

The Royals had the wind advantage in the second half and Shane O’Rourke chipped in with 0-04, as they kept ahead despite having Cormac McGuinness sent-off.

Sligo, who lost to Donegal in their league opener, had 0-02 apiece from Mark Breheny and substitute Alan Costello. Marren, Charlie Harrison, Stephen Gilmartin and David Maye were their other scorers.

Sligo were unchanged from their defeat to Donegal, while attackers Brian Farrell and David Morgan was brought in as the only changes to the Meath side that lost to Laois.

Meath’s physical approach was not finding favour with referee Rory Hickey. He yellow carded Caoimhin King and full-forward Sheridan in the opening few minutes.

Breheny’s early free shot Sligo ahead, but the influential Sheridan set up Graham Reilly for Meath’s opener and he then carried the ball in-field to slot over the second.

Although facing into the elements in first half, Seamus McEnaney’s side managed to negate the wind factor. Sligo gave way when Farrell netted on the rebound, following a good first-up save by Philip Greene.

Marren replied with a well-taken point from play. Breheny also registered his second free, but Meath were dictating matters.

Points from Morgan, O’Rourke and Shane McAnerney saw them canter ahead on the scoreboard, with Sligo’s frustrations growing. David Kelly drove wide when a goal looked on the cards.

The Yeats men kept Meath waiting for the start of the second half. Harrison, Gilmartin and Costello added to the visitors’ total, but Meath stayed in command.

O’Rourke languidly guided a point over off his left boot to maintain the seven-point buffer.

Wing back McGuinness, who was part of a solid Meath defence, picked up two yellow cards in the space of two minutes. Yet, Sligo, who brought on Costello and Pat Hughes in attack, were kept at arm’s length.