Meath make midfield dominance count to beat Derry by four in All-Ireland SFC

Jordan Morris celebrates a vital point against Derry at Find Insurance Celtic Park. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SFC: Meath 1-24 Derry 1-20

MEATH booked their place in Monday’s Round Three draw with victory over Derry on Saturday night at Find Insurance Celtic Park.

Led by James Conlon and Donal Keoghan the Royals made their midfield dominance count on the scoreboard.

Donal Keogan stepped around Shea McGuckin to slot home a first championship goal and Meath were ahead in the fifth minute.

The frantic start continued when Sean Brennan tipped a shot around the post after Ronan Ryan made a block on Sargent.

The Lavey man stroked over the 45 with Shane McGuigan tagging on a score.

Two pointers from Bryan Menton and Jack Flynn had Meath in the decent place but they came either side of Sargent’s goal. He flicked home after Hurson allowed an advantage.

Derry had another goal chance when Conor McCluskey was denied by Brennan but Murray fisted over.

McGuigan nosed Derry ahead before Meath came with another burst. Points from Conlon helped Meath into a three-point lead.

Derry’s James Sargent with Meath's Donal Keogan and Seán Rafferty. Picture: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho

McEvoy, Forbes and Sargent hit late scores to level the game at the break.

There was a skirmish at half-time, with referee Hurson showing black cards to Cian McBride, Ronan Ryan, Gareth McKinless and Conor Doherty.

Meath substitute James McEntee saw yellow with Meath management team member John McCarthy shown a red card.

Jack Flynn and Eoin McEvoy traded early scores as the game kicked back into action.

Meath pushed three up but a Rogers two-pointer helped Derry back level.

Morris and McGuigan kicked scores to level the game, 1-14 each, as the four men came back on again.

A second Morris point, a Jack O’Connor effort and one from Keoghan put Meath three up again by the 49th minute.

A sixth Conlon score shot Meath six up with Murray hitting a two-pointer to give Derry a chance to peg a comeback.

A two-point free from McGugan then made it a three-point game with four minutes to go but Killian Smith tagged on an insurance point.

Scorers for Derry: S McGuigan 0-5 (1tpf) J Sargent 1-2 (1 45), L Murray 0-4(1tp), E McEvoy 0-3, B Rogers(tp), R Forbes 0-2 each, C Higgins and G McKinless 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: J Conlon 0-7, D Keoghan 1-2, B Menton, J Flynn 0-3 (1tp) each, M Costello, S Brennan (tpf), J Morris 0-2 each, J O’Connor, E Frayne (1f) and K Smith 0-1 each.

DERRY: S McGuckin; P McGrogan, B Rogers, C McCluskey; C Doherty, G McKinless, E McEvoy; C Glass, D Higgins; E Doherty, J Sargent, R Forbes; P Cassidy, S McGuigan, L Murray.

Subs: N Loughlin for Glass (HT), D Baker for Cassidy (HT), N O'Donnell for Higgins (57), S Young for Forbes (58), C Higgins for Baker (62).

MEATH: S Brennan; S Lavin; S Rafferty, R Ryan; D Keoghan, B Menton, S Coffey; C McBride, J O'Connor; J Flynn, M Costello, C Caulfield; J Morris, J Conlon, E Frayne.

Subs: K Smyth for Ryan (47), C O’Connor for Menton (57), C Hickey for J O’Connor (62), K Curtis for Conlon (67).

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone).