Meath falter in Fermanagh

 

Meath's hopes of making it two from two in NFL Div 2 were dashed in Enniskillen on Sunday as Mick O'Dowd's side lost 0-6 to 0-10 to Fermanagh in deplorable conditions.

This sub-par performance wasn’t helped by the  harsh dismissal of Andy Tormey in the 24th minute, but the sending off wasn’t the sole excuse.
Meath were dreadful throughout.

To score just one point from play, a 44th minute effort from Donal Lenihan, indicates how poor the attacking threat was and with so many unforced turnovers they gifted possession to a Fermanagh side that were no world beaters.

Both sides’ procrastination in front of the posts contributed to a scarcity of scores in the opening quarter, but it was Fermanagh who started brightly with Eoin Donnelly opting to loft over from beyond 55 metres with no other options in front of him after just 13 seconds.
Meath replied four minutes later when Mickey Newman pointed a 44-metre free after Padraic Harnan had been fouled, but then they became bogged down in build-up play.
One good move down the right hand side led to Cillian O’Sullivan putting in a centre which was punched clear for a '45’ that Newman steered wide.
Tobin ended an eight-minute scoreless spell when he converted a close range free after Graham Reilly was fouled, but Fermanagh showed glimpses of their explosive threat when Ruairi Corrigan and Tomas Corrigan got in behind the Meath rearguard to set up Aiden Breen who blasted his goal chance over the bar to make it 0-2 each.
Tormey’s first misdemeanour followed in the 18th minute when he was cautioned for a high challenge on the diminutive Ruairi Corrigan, but that didn’t distract Meath as O’Sullivan edged them ahead again with a brilliant score from a sideline kick.
Sean Quigley restored parity for the third time with a huge free from the right hand side, but then disaster struck for Meath when Tormey was deemed to have blocked the run of Barry Mulrone and received a black card followed by red.
It was a harsh call on the Donaghmore/Ashbourne man as Mulrone appeared to run into the back of the Meath player who held his line in a support run. The call left Meath facing an uphill battle.
Fermanagh took the lead for only the second time when Quigley converted a '45’ after Conor McGill had slipped off the field while in possession, but Meath continued to press.
Lenihan took a step too wide and hit the upright and a minute later Newman was released by Tobin, but saw his first-time shot well saved by Christopher Snow before Fermanagh countered again and ensured a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead when Quigley fielded brilliantly behind McGill and pointed with ease.
Turning with the wind in their faces Fermanagh created the first couple of decent chances, the best of which saw Ciaran Flaherty drive a goal chance into the back of Brian Power.
It took Meath almost eight minutes to take advantage of the wind with Lenihan pointing their only score from play. Ironically the Dunboyne man was being lined up to be replaced as he kicked his point, but the score earned him another few minutes on the pitch.
Lenihan was called ashore two minutes later after picking up a yellow card and in the 47th minute Meath drew level again when Tobin converted a '45’ after the Fermanagh defence had scrambled Tobin’s high ball over the end line.
Three minutes later Meath struck the front when Tobin converted a 13-metre free after good work by O’Sullivan, but they failed to score again in the remaining 24 minutes.
Tomas Corrigan levelled matters with 13 minutes left when he converted a free after Tobin fouled Mulrone, that free against Meath was one of many late decisions that baffled the visiting players and supporters.
Tomas Corrigan kicked another 'soft’ free from 13-metres after Cathal Finn was deemed to have fouled him and four minutes later the Fermanagh corner-forward kicked his third free to make it 0-8 to 0-6, although the Meath players protested that effort had gone wide.
Needing a goal to get back into the game, Meath never looked like getting it as Fermanagh crowded their defence.
Mulrone put three between the teams in the 70th minute before Tomas Corrigan kicked the 10th point from another free in injury-time to compound a miserable day for Meath.