Leinster JFC: Meehan completes Royals' comeback
June 05, 2019
Meath's James Cassidy with Barry O'Hare Louth during the Leinster JFC semi final at Pairc Tailteann
Meath 0-17
Louth 2-10
A wind-assisted second-half rally left Meath minimum margin winners over Louth in this exciting Leinster JFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann this evening.
Oran Meehan posted the winning score with the hour almost up and Meath did well to contain Louth in the time remaining which ran to three minutes of stoppage time.
Meehan's point earned Meath a lead they hadn't held since the seventh minute of the hour.
Seven points in arrears at the break, Davy Nelson's charges outscored 0-12 to 0-4 in the second-half to advance to the final.
Meath's first outing of the campaign was played in overcast conditions, Louth had an away win over Wicklow behind them.
Despite facing the wind blowing from the hospital end, Meath posted the opening two points, with Kevin Ross inside 50 seconds registering first, flicking over a Frank O'Reilly delivery.. In the fourth minute midfielder Danny Quinn added the second
Barry O'Hare posted five first-half points for Louth, including the visitors opening score from a free. Then Eamon O'Neill levelled matters for the first time. Another O'Hare free put Louth ahead for the first time, in the eighth minute.
A Frank O'Reilly free levelled matters for the second and final time in the opening 30 minutes. Louth moved two clear before O'Neill's delivery placed Cian Callan for the opening goal as the hour entered the second quarter.
That left it 1-5 to 0-3. Another O'Reilly free slightly trimmed the Meath deficit. Louth hit six wides before the first Meath wide arrived in hte 22nd minute. Seconds later came the second Louth goal with Phillip Englishby assisting Cathal Bellew who netted from close range.
The sides share two more points before the break while the Louth defence did well to resist a three-pronged Meath goal attempt in the 25th minutes.
Louth led by 2-6 to 0-5 at the break. It took wind-assisted Meath nearly four minutes to open their second-half account with O'Reilly finding the range from a 45. By the 43rd minute they had got the deficit down to the minimum.
Points in quick succession at the start of the final quarter from goalkeeper Luke Haggins (a 45-metre free) and midfielder Eamon O'Neill left a goal in it, 2-8 to 0-11. It was just temporary respite as Meath regained control, outscoring Louth by 0-6 to 0-2 in the time remaining to claim a third consecutive Leinster JFC final appearance.
Meath: Adam McDermott; Darren Gibney, Michael Flood (C), Kieran Slavin; James Cassidy, Morgan Callaghan, Sean Reilly (0-1); Robin Clarke, Danny Quinn (0-2); Cathal McConnell, Frank O'Reilly (0-5, 4fs, 1 45), Jason Scully (0-1); Oran Meehan (0-1), Robbie Farrelly, Kevin Ross (0-5, 4fs). Subs - Darren Finney (0-2) for Gibney (ht), Stephen Coogan for Farrelly (39), Tommy O'Reilly for McConnell (54).
Louth: Luke Haggins (0-1f); Niall Sharkey, Adam Shields, Patrick Hanlon; Cathal Bellew (1-0), Peter Nixon (C), Barry Reynolds; Eamon O'Neill (0-2), Seanie Crosbie; Gerry Garland, Cian Callan (1-0), Dean Carolan; Phillip Englishby, Padraig Moley, Barry O'Hare (0-6, 4fs). Subs - Sean Marry for Moley (28),Jordan O'Donoghue for Carolan (47), Fergal Malone (0-1) for Garland (48), Colm Giggins for O'Neill (60)
Referee: David O'Connor (Dublin)
