Poor performance sends Meath home pointless

When Paul Conroy gained possession deep into of injury-time against Meath at Pearse Stadium on Sunday there was a sickening feeling of déjà vu - Galway struck a late winner to condemn the visitors to a second successive NFL Div 2 defeat Just eight days earlier Meath had fallen foul to a late Ollie Lyons point when Kildare left Pairc Tailteann with the points. Lightning struck twice for the Royals at Salthill, but on this occasion Meath can have few complaints. In such a topsy-turvy and unpredictable division Galway upset the formbook and bounced back from their one-point loss to Westmeath to claw their way back into promotion contention. The victory was no more than Galway deserved because Meath were not at the level required to expect to be rewarded with anything from their long trip west, but that will hardly ease the pain of another injury-time loss. Intensity levels were dramatically lower than the Kildare performance, the decision-making was sub-standard and the expected levels of hunger and commitment weren't of the range that Meath supporters have come to expect. Meath's fluidity and intensity wasn't helped by over-fussy referee Gary McCormack. The Dublin official appeared intent on being the centre of attention as he booked players from both sides in a free-ridden opening half that was devoid of any serious tension. Harsh yellow cards for Ciaran Lenehan and Donncha Tobin and subsequent final warnings for both following further innocuous challenges forced changes to avoid second yellow cards. The tone set by McCormack reduced the game to a disappointing contest that lacked the levels of passion and roller-coaster football that has a tendency to raise the enthusiasm of players and supporters. Only Nicky Joyce looked to be enjoying the game as he ran riot and destroyed a succession of Meath markers as he inspired Galway to victory. Joyce started the game in the shadow of Bryan Menton and Lenehan, but a couple scores saw Tobin deployed on the ace attacker. However, the Blackhall Gaels man fared little better, but then neither did Mickey Burke when he resumed for the second-half on Joyce. Joyce finished with seven of his side's tally and all of Galway's points, bar three close-range frees from Joyce, came from play. In contrast Cian Ward was Meath's only starting forward to score from play. Substitute Joe Sheridan did add a controversial goal to make him the second Meath forward to score from play, but Meath's attacking return was awful. Six of their 11 points were from placed balls and the goal probably should have been ruled out as Sheridan appeared to be in the square when he back-flicked Cian Ward's speculative punt to the net. The midfield pairing of Mark Ward and Tom Walsh accounted for three points while roving centre-back Shane McAnarney also chipped in with his now customary score. While scores from further out the field are also welcome, they are at a cost as the galloping half-backs tend to leave their defence exposed and vulnerable to conceding. Sunday's game exposed a weakness through the middle for the second week in succession. It was all to easy for Greg Higgins and Joe Bergin to secure possession and then launch attacks which cut swathes through the heart of the Meath defence. Stephen Bray was his usual industrious self and kicked a few decent points off both feet from frees, but most his best work was done too far from goals. The same applied to Paddy Gilsenan and Graham Reilly who had to forage too deep in an effort to gain possession. Cian Ward's contribution from play was disappointing, but his confidence is obviously low and maybe a return to free-taking duties might give him the boost he needs to spark his obvious exceptional talent. Apart from two brief moments between the 16th and the 19th minutes, Meath were never in front. Galway dominated and got the rewards their performance deserved as they attacked Meath from the outset. Before the end of the sixth minute Meath found themselves trailing to a Joyce free and with both Lenehan and Tobin on yellow cards. Gilsenan went close to opening Meath's account, but he struck the woodwork. However, 30 seconds later Meath were up and running when Walsh stole possession to set up Cian Ward for what proved to be the Meath forward's only point from play. A harsh call against Chris O'Connor for an illegal handpass saw Galway break from defence before Joyce restored the hosts lead. A 13-metre free from Bray had Meath back level before McAnarney gave his side the lead for the first time after 15 minutes with a fine score. A superb score from Joyce restored parity, but again Meath hinted that they had more in the tank when Bray converted a free to open the second-quarter 0-4 to 0-3 ahead. However, those hopes were soon quashed when Danny Cummins beat Burke to possession to level it again and then Niall Coleman had it all too easy to make it 0-5 to 0-4 to Galway. The real killer blow came two minutes later when Conroy gathered Bergin's long ball and turned inside Kevin Reilly before producing a superb finish under David Gallagher to stretch Galway's lead to four points. Mark Ward kept Meath in touch with a fine score and Walsh replicated his midfield partner's effort to make it 0-6 to 1-5, but Meath couldn't sustain that momentum as Joyce closed the half with two points, one from a free, to make it 1-7 to 0-6 at the break. Bray cut the deficit with his third free within two minutes of the restart, but Galway remained in command with Joyce (free) and Garreth Bradshaw making it 1-9 to 0-7. Just when Meath needed a bit of luck they found it when Graham Reilly's effort came off the upright and fell to Cian Ward. However, that luck turned to disappointment when his shot was brilliantly deflected for a converted '45.' Joyce took advantage of a Burke slip to make it 1-10 to 0-8, but another close-range free from Bray and a superbly executed '45' from Cian Ward closed the gap to just a goal, 0-10 to 1-10. Mark Ward got the large travelling Meath support on their feet with a super point, but again Galway capitalised on poor defending and Gary Sice scored. Sheridan raised Meath hopes when he somehow managed to flick Cian Ward's long ball to the net. The Seneschalstown man had looked to be in the square, but after prolonged consultation with his umpires McCormack allowed the goal to stand and with 10 minutes remaining, Meath were back in the game. However, momentum failed them again. Joyce proved his human side by missing a 13-metre free and Bray was also off target with a decent chance. Both sides went for the win in the closing stages, but after Cormac McGuinness had sliced a decent opportunity wide it was Galway who claimed the win when Conroy popped over the bar to break Meath hearts for the second week in-a-row. SCORERS Galway - N Joyce 0-7 three frees; P Conroy 1-1; G Bradshaw 0-1; G Sice 0-1; N Coleman 0-1; D Cummins 0-1. Meath - S Bray 0-4 frees; C Ward 0-3 two '45s'; J Sheridan 1-0; M Ward 0-2; T Walsh 0-1; S McAnarney 0-1. THE TEAMS Galway - A Faherty; K McGrath, F Hanley, K Kelly; G Bradshaw, D Blake, G O'Donnell; G Higgins, J Bergin; G Sice, D Burke, N Coleman; N Joyce, P Conroy, D Cummins. Subs - T Flynn for Coleman 58 mins, J Duane for Blake 53m, P Joyce for Cummins 66m, M Hehir for Burke 70m. Meath - David Gallagher; Mickey Burke, Kevin Reilly, Bryan Menton; Chris O'Connor, Shane McAnarney, Ciaran Lenehan; Tom Walsh, Mark Ward; Seamus Kenny, Graham Reilly, Donnacha Tobin; Paddy Gilsenan, Stephen Bray, Cian Ward. Subs - Cormac McGuinness for Lenehan 27 mins, Joe Sheridan for O'Connor 30m, Gary O'Brien for Tobin half-time, Jamie Queeney for G Reilly 50m, Brian Meade for Kenny 63m. REFEREE Gary McCormack (Dublin).