Meath Hill made the short trip to their North Meath neighbours St. Michaels on Sunday afternoon, determined to secure their first win of the league campaign — and they did so with a battling 0-15 to 0-12 victory. 

It was the home side who started brightest, registering a two-pointer from play in the opening minutes. However, Meath Hill settled quickly, with Jack McMahon converting two frees in quick succession to level the game. St. Michaels edged back in front with a point from play, but after missing a chance for another two-pointer, Meath Hill took advantage. Jack McMahon punished the miss with another pointed free to level matters once again. Ryan Owens was commanding on the kickouts, and after Meath Hill won possession, Ciaran Farrelly earned a free which McMahon duly converted. Strong running from Gillen carved through the St. Michaels defence, winning another free, which McMahon again slotted over to edge Meath Hill ahead.

St. Michaels responded with a point, punishing a lapse from a Meath Hill free, but Farrelly once more took on his man to win a crucial free, leaving McMahon to keep the scoreboard ticking. Owens was again to the fore, winning the next kickout, with Gillen swinging over a superb point from play to extend the visitors’ lead. Although St. Michaels briefly rallied with a two-pointer, Dominic Yorke immediately replied with a two-pointer of his own after dissent from the home side gifted Meath Hill a vital opportunity. At the break, Meath Hill led 0-09 to 0-06.

The second half began in similar fashion, with Pierce McGrath getting Meath Hill up and running by firing over his first score of the afternoon. St. Michaels hit back with a close-range point, but Gary Breslin stretched the advantage again with two well-taken frees.

Another pointed free kept St. Michaels in the contest, but Meath Hill struck a crucial blow when Dominic Yorke hit his second two-pointer of the day, pushing the Hill’s lead out to six points. Gary Breslin then added another point from a tight angle after a surging run through the middle, highlighting Meath Hill’s willingness to drive forward at every opportunity. St. Michaels enjoyed a late purple patch, landing four unanswered points — three of them from frees — but Meath Hill’s earlier efforts had built enough of a cushion to see them over the line. 

In the end, it finished Meath Hill 0-15, St. Michaels 0-12, as the visitors picked up a well-deserved and hard-fought first victory of the league season.

Tweet

Most Read Stories