Meath shade verdict against cavan
Meath carved out a 0-14 to 0-12 NFL Div 2B victory over neighbours Cavan in front of more than 7,500 spectators at Navan's Pairc Tailteann today with Stephen Bray and Eamon Wallace claiming the vital late points.
Meath manager Mick O'Dowd made three changes to the selected starting line up with David Dalton coming in for Donal Keogan in the half-back line, Shane Rourke starting instead of Bryan Menton and Mickey Newman getting the nod instead of Eamon Wallace.
Meath were ahead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval, but it was only in the closing minutes of the half that the hosts regained a lead they held briefly in the opening minutes.
Mickey Newman accounted for three of Meath's points (two frees) with Shane O'Rourke sending over a brace from play and James McEntee getting forward to split the posts before he was replaced by Bryan Menton in the 25h minute. O'Dowd also introduced Joey Wallace for Mark O'Sullivan in the 26th minute.
Cavan played some nice football in that opening half but tallied 11 wides as they had to settle for points from Martin Dunne (two frees), Martin Reilly (two) and Tomas Corr.
Cavan enjoyed a good second-half and were by 0-12 to 0-9 with 15 minutes remaining, but hosts Meath dug deep and claimed the last five points with Newman (two), Bryan Menton, Bray and Wallace sending over the vital points.
Both sides had goal chances in the closing stages, b ut were unable to find the net.
However, Roscommon's victory over Westmeath sealed promotion for the Connacht side with Down also going up. Next up for Meath is a Leinster SFC joust with Wicklow in Navan.
Meath – Paddy O'Rourke; Conor McGill, Donncha Tobin, James McEntee (0-1); Brian Power, David Dalton, Mickey Burke (0-1); Conor Gillespie, Adam Flanagan; Graham Relly, Padraic Harnan, Mark O'Sullivan; Michael Newman (0-6), Stephen Bray (0-2), Shane O'Rourke (0-2).
Subs – Bryan Menton (0-1) for McEntee 25 mins, Joseph Wallace for O'Sullivan 26 mins, Eamon Wallace (0-1) for O'Rourke 56 mins.
OTHER RESULTS DIV 2
Westmeath 0-12, Roscommon 2-13.
Down 3-12, Laois 1-15.
Galway 3-12, Kildare 1-12.
NEXT YEAR
NFL Div 2 next year will comprise - Meath, Galway, Laois, Cavan, Tyrone, Derry, Armagh, Fermanagh.
THE GAA president was also welcomed to Navan and there was a special presentation to Aogán Ó Fearghail from Meath Co Board chairman Conor Tormey before the game (see video clip).