Meath made to pay for missed chances

Meath 0-9 Derry 0-13

Meath wasted a number of scoring chances when going down to a workmanlike Derry side at Pairc Tailteann.

The Royals hit 15 wides and scored just one point from play in the entire second half through Donnacha Tobin.

Closing points from Brian McCallion and Blaine Gormley edged Derry 0-7 to 0-6 ahead by half-time.

A Stephen Bray free brought Meath level, before Patsy Bradley, Conleith Gilligan and Gormley kicked the visitors to their second win in three league games.

The lacklustre Meath performance led to manager Seamus McEnaney keeping his players in the dressing room for a 45-minute period after the final whistle.

This was a closely-fought affair in the first half with both sides looking to get over the loss of a key forward earlier in the week - Meath target man Joe Sheridan has emigrated to Boston, while skilful Derry attacker Enda Muldoon had decided to retire from the inter-county scene.

Patsy Bradley and Blaine Gormley started in the Oak Leafers' half-forward line in Navan, and early points from Enda Lynn and Paddy Bradley, both following counter attacks, had the visitors 0-2 to 0-0 ahead inside three minutes.

Bradley converted four scoring chances during the opening 18 minutes to see Derry keep pace with Meath who had moved 0-5 to 0-4 ahead thanks to efforts from Graham Reilly and free-takers Stephen Bray (0-3) and Cian Ward.

Aided by Patsy Bradley's hoovering up of possession around centre-field, John Brennan's men scored three of the next four points. Corner back McCallion broke forward to score from play and Gormley converted a '45', in response to a Ward free.

The only real goal-scoring opportunity of the half presented itself to Derry's Sean Leo McGoldrick just two minutes before the break.

Meath stopper David Gallagher was equal to the shot though, and kept the margin at the minimum as the players headed to the dressing rounds.

Derry were a much more efficient force on the resumption as Meath failed to finish off a hatful of chances. Bray ensured a positive start for them by popping over a free, squaring things up at 0-7 apiece.

Derry quickly raided forward again and Gilligan kicked two frees from long and close range, the second from 13 metres out in the 45th minute, to re-establish the lead for Brennan's side.

Gormley's accuracy from a second '45' nudged Derry three points clear with little over 20 minutes remaining. Meath's only response was from the boot of Bray, they hit seven wides in the second half adding to eight from the first.

Derry were far more clinical in front of the posts and they added three more points to their tally through Patsy Bradley, lively corner forward Lynn and centre-back Charlie Kielt.

Tobin took Meath into double figures when a late goal was on the cards and there was no denying Derry as Meath fell to their second successive league defeat.

The result has Derry in sixth place in the standings on four points, tied with Westmeath, Monaghan and Meath.

They host Louth in the next round, and Meath will have to swiftly recapture their best form for a tough trip to table toppers Tyrone.