Pierce McGrath's late penalty saw Meath Hill claim the A FL Division 3 title with a dramatic win over Bective at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening
Meath Hill ...... 2-10
Bective ......... 1-12
Boosted by impressive support Meath Hill netted twice in the final quarter to overcome Bective, who managed one more score than the eventual winners.
Bective looked well placed to claim the Cummins Cup with the hour almost up when leading by a point. Paul McCabe had the misfortune to miss with two point-scoring attempts. With one he hit the post.
Then a foul on Ian Malone led to a penalty which Pierce McGrath drove to the net at the hospital end.
There was sufficient time for David Hosie's charges to, at worst, force extra time. Paul McCabe (free) pulled a point back for Bective. A subsequent free, within scoring range, for David Hosie's men was taken quickly and with it their chance of league honours was gone.
For much of this engrossing contest, Bective shaded matters. Meath Hill were two points in arrears heading into the final quarter. Their 'keeper Chris Yorke denied Marty Mulhall a goal twice in quick succession.
Meath Hill's first goal arrived in the 48th minute when Aodhan Matthews netted to leave his side leading 1-9 to 1-8.
To their credit Bective rebounded to lead twice through Sean Keating and Marty Mulhall. Keating assisted for the latter score that left it 1-11 to 1-10 to the team in green and white in the 59th minute.
Bective bossed the opening 20 minutes to forge a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. However, five first-half wides - to Meath Hill's four were registered.
Three Marty Mulhall points were central to Bective's early dominance. When he posted his third in the 17th minute it was 0-4 to 0-1 for the Navan-parish side.
Brian Cantwell completed Bective's first-half tally following good approach and left it 0-5 to 0-2.
Meath Hill closed the half with four scores on the spin. Two Jack McMahon frees bookended points from Ian Malone (a fine effort from out on the left) and Tomas Smith.
That spurt left Meath Hill 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time with their strong support in fine voice ahead of an entertaining and dramatic second-half.
Meath Hill - Chris Yorke; Simon Martin, Martin Tully, Conor Marry; Aodhan Matthews (1-0), Kieran Slevin, Ryan Carry; Paddy Matthews, Keith Ginnitty; Barry Kieran, Ian Malone (0-2, 1f), Sean Rooney; Tomas Smith (0-2), Pierce McGrath (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1f), Jack McMahon (0-5 fs). Subs - Donnchadh Boyle for Marry (39), Thomas Rooney for Tully (51), Mark Tully for Thomas Rooney (bc 52), Martin Tully for (60 + 4).
Bective - Ciaran Breslin; Ben Malone, Dermot Rogers, Jack Grant; Donagh Garvey, Jarlath Brennan, Colin O'Rourke; Kevin Brennan (0-1), Ciaran McConnell; Craig Roche, Marty Mulhall (0-5, 1f), Paul McCabe (0-3 fs); Brian Cantwell (0-1), Mark O'Brien (0-1), Sean Keating (1-1). Subs - Cathal McConnell for Cantwell (ht), Paul Lyness for Grant (bc 37), David Fitzpatrick for Garvey (bs 47).
Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha)