After a disappointing loss to Offaly in the Leinster Senior Football Championship, the Tailteann Cup proved a very welcomed competition for manager Colm O’Rourke and his management team.

From the outset Meath, Cavan and Down were the favourites, with the Leinster county the highest seeded team.

It also gave the former Meath great time to introduce new players especially the likes of Conor Gray, Ciaran Caulfield, John O’Regan and Eoghan Frayne from the Under 20 ranks.

That loss to Offaly in Tullamore in late April was quickly forgotten last Saturday when Meath produced a memorable second half display and claim their first piece of silverware at Croke Park since 2010.

Over the course of the six outings O’Rourke used 25 players representing 15 clubs. Sean Brennan, Ronan Ryan, Donal Keogan, Padraic Harman, Sean Coffey, Conor Gray, Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello and Aaron Lynch started in all the games.

Six games:

Sean Brennan, Ronan Ryan, Donal Keogan, Padraic Harman, Sean Coffey, Conor Gray, Cillian O’Sullivan (5 as sub0, Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch, Harry O’Higgins (2 as sub), Daithi McGowan 5 as sub), Cathal Hickey (2 as sub0, Donal Lenihan (6 as sub), 

Five games:

Adam O’Neill, Ronan Jones (1 as sub), Jack Flynn (1 as sub), Jack O’Connor (1 as sub), James McEntee (1 as sub)

Four games:

Ciaran Caulfield (2 as sub)

Two games:

Michael Flood, Eoghan Frayne (2 as sub)

One game

Thomas O’Reilly (1 as sub), Diarmuid Moriarty, John O’Regan (1 as sub)

Top scorer:

Meath scored 11-99 and conceded 4-74.

Jordan Morris was the Royals top scorer with Mathew Costello and Aaron Lynch not far behind.

14 players got on the score sheet for the champions over the six games.

1. Jordan Morris 3-20

2. Mathew Costello 1-20

3. Aaron Lynch 3-13

4. James McEntee 0-10

5. Jack O’Connor 1-6, Jack Flynn 0-9

6. Donal Lenihan 1-4

7. Cathal Hickey 1-3

8. Daithi McGowan 0-5

9. Ronan Jones 1-1

10. Thomas O’Reilly 0-3

11. Eoghan Frayne and Conor Gray 0-2 each

12. Donal Keogan 0-1

The games:

Round 1 

Meath 1-19 Tipperary   0-11

Meath scorers - Aaron Lynch 1-3, Jordan Morris 0-4, Matthew Costello 0-3 and Thomas O'Reilly 0-3 each, Jack O'Connor 0-2, Jack Flynn, Conor Gray, Donal Lenihan, Donal Keogan 0-1 each.

Meath - Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Michael Flood; Donal Keogan (c), Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Gray; Cillian O'Sullivan, Jack Flynn, Jack O'Connor; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Thomas O'Reilly, Harry O'Higgins, Daithi McGowan, Cathal Hickey, Donal Lenihan

Round 2 

Meath 3-17 Waterford 1-14

Meath scorers: Matthew Costelloe 1-5, Aaron Lynch 0-6, Jordan Morris and Donal Lenihan 1-2 each, Eoghan Frayne, and James McEntee 0-1 each. 

Meath:Sean Brennan; Harry O Higgins, Ronan Ryan, Michael Flood; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Grey; Diarmuid Moriarty, Daithi McGowan, Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris, Matthew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Cillian O Sullivan, James McEntee, Eoghan Frayne, Donal Lenihan, John O Regan.

Round 3 

Meath 1-11 Down 1-9

Meath scorers: Jordan Morris 1-3,  James McEntee and Daithi McGowan 0-2each, Jack O'Connor, Matt Costello, Jack Flynn and Donal Lenihan 0-1 each

Meath - Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O'Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Gray; Ciaran Caulfield, James McEntee, Jack O'Connor; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Jack Flynn, Donal Lenihan, Daithi McGowan, Cillian O'Sullivan, Cathal Hickey.

Quarter final 

Meath 2-23 Wexford 0-12

Meath scorers:  Jordan Morris 0-6,  James McEntee 0-6, Aaron Lynch 1-2, Mathew Costello 0-4, Daithi McGowan 0-3, Cathal Hickey 1-0,  Jack Flynn and  Eoghan Frayne 0-1 each.

Meath - Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O'Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Jack Flynn, Conor Gray; Cathal Hickey, James McEntee, Jack O'Connor; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Donal Lenihan, Daithi McGowan, Ciaran Caulfield, Cillian O'Sullivan, Eoghan Frayne.

Semi final 

Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14

Meath scorers: Jordan Morris 1-4, Aaron Lynch 1-2, Mathew Costello 0-4, Jack Flynn 0-2, Conor Gray, Cathal Hickey, James McEntee and Jack O'Connor 0-1 each.

Meath - Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O'Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Jack Flynn, Conor Gray; Cathal Hickey, James McEntee, Jack O'Connor; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Ciaran Caulfield, Donal Lenihan, Cillian O'Sullivan, Daithi McGowan, Ronan Jones.

Final 

Meath 2-13 Down 0-14

Meath scorers: Jack O'Connor 1-2, Ronan Jones 1-1, Jack Flynn 0-4, Mathew Costello 0-3 (0-2f), Cathal Hickey 0-2, Jordan Morris 0-1.

Meath: Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Ciaran Caulfield; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Gray; Jack Flynn, James McEntee, Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Jack O'Connor, Cillian O'Sullivan, Harry O'Higgins, Donal Lenihan, Daithi McGowan

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