Lenihan leads Meath to victory

Donal Lenihan's 66th minute goal proved to be the decisive score as Meath secured a 1-13 to 0-15 win over Galway at Pairc Tailteann today and blew the race for promotion wide open.

Galway got off the mark in the fourth minute when Barry McHugh converted a '45' after James Toher had deflected Eamonn Brannigan's effort and 30 seconds later the visitors squandered a great goal chance when Brannigan shot tamely at Paddy O'Rourke.

Another unforced error in attack set up Galway to double their lead with McHugh pointing, but Meath defended well and it was from a well constructed counter-attack in the 12th minute that Donal Lenihan opened his account with his first touch.

Another poor ball from defence gifted Paul Conroy with Galway's third point towards the end of the first quarter, but then Meath assumed control of the half with Padraic Harnan, Brian Power and Willie Carry excelling.

Cillian O'Sullivan was denied a goal by the butt of the post, but Meath managed a point in the follow up with Alan Forde on target.

Lenihan levelled it up in the 19th minute with a excellent score from the left, while Toher saw his long range free come back off the crossbar.

Meath did hit the front after 21 minutes when Harnan set up O'Sullivan and five minutes later Donal Keoghan doubled that advantage to make it 0-5 to 0-3.

Outstanding determination from Power helped set-up Lenihan for his third from play and while Shane Walsh scuffed a goal chance wide for Galway it was Meath who continued to press with Carry and O'Sullivan making it 0-8 to 0-3.

Galway ended their 20-minute barren spell two minutes into injury-time when Michael Daly pointed with ease to leave his side just 0-4 to 0-8 adrift at the break.

There was no slow start to the second-half with Galway closing the deficit within 14 seconds through Daly, but a fisted score from Reilly restored Meath's four point cushion a minute later.

As the wind picked up Galway enjoed thir best spell with frees from Paul Conroy and McHugh, following harsh decisions closing the gaps to 0-7 to 0-9.

McHugh and Lenihan traded frees before Liam Silke left the minimum between the teams. Lenihan saw a great goal chance saved by Rory Lavelle and Galway grew in confidence after that stop as Gary O'Donnell drew them level before successive points from McHugh (free), Conroy and Shane Walsh gave them their three-point lead 0-10 to 0-13.

Meath's resolve was tested and they passed with flying colours as Reilly and Lenihan narrow rthe deficit to 0-12 to 0-13.

Thomas Flynn's fisted point looked to have settled Galway again, but Sean Tobin kept the pressure on with a converted free after he had been fouled.

Then came the game changer – Lenihan's goal - to make it 1-13 to 0-14.

The closing minutes were frantic with Willie Carry and Donnacha Tobin joining Danny Cummins on the sidelines for black card offences and even though Laim Silke did manage a point in the last minute it was Meath who held on for a superb win.

Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Donal Keogan (0-1), Conor McGill, Donnacha Tobin; Willie Carry (0-1), Brian Power, Padraic Harnan; Bryan Menton, James Toher; Ruairi O Coileain, Cillian O'Sullivan (0-2), Alan Forde (0-1); Bryan McMahon, Graham Reilly (0-2), Donal Lenihan (1-5 one free). Subs – Sean Tobin (0-1 free) for McMahon 47 mins, Eamon Wallace for Forde 51m, Adam Flanagan for Toher 55m, Joey Wallace for O Coileain 57m, Black cards – E Wallace (replaced by Cian O'Brien 63m), W Carry (replaced by Mickey Burke 69m), D Tobin (not replaced 73m).

Galway – R Lavelle; D Kyne, D Walsh, C Sweeney; G O'Donnell (0-1), G Bradshaw, L Silke (0-1); P Conroy (0-3 one free), F O Curraoin; T Flynn (0-1), M Daly (0-2), E Brannigan; S Walsh (0-1), B McHugh (0-5 three frees, one '45'), M Lundy. Subs – D Cummins for Lundy 27 mins, J Heaney (0-1) for Daly 61m, G Sice for McHugh 68m. Black card – D Cummins (not replaced 73m).

Referee – Maurice Deegan (Laois).