Meath Hill claim JFC title

Meath Hill won the JFC title for the first time in 37 years when they proved too strong for Moylagh today at Páirc Tailteann with a 1-12 to 0-9 victory.

Niall McLarney missed a sitter for Moylagh after only 59 seconds when he blazed a gilt-edged goal chance wide. Moylagh managed two more wides before Tom O'Reilly converted a fifth minute free.

Joe Melia opened his side's account from play soon after.

Meath Hill settled with points from Jason Yorke and Pearse McGrath before they hit the front following a good move.

They played the ball out of defence with a patient build up that culminated with Tomás Smith providing the final pass for Peasre McGrath who split the posts for a lead that lasted all of 60 seconds until Niall McLarney drew the sides level for the second and last time at the end of the first-quarter.

Meath Hill dictated the remainder of the half and could have had at least three goals with sharper finishing.

One goal from Thomas Rooney was enough to help them to a thoroughly deserved 1-8 to 0-3 interval advantge with the extra points from Pearse McGrath, Thomas McGrath, Keith Ginnity, Chris Yorke and James Mooney.

Moylagh made a brave effort to get back into contention after the break with quick points from Melia and Sean Reilly who survived a blatant bodycheck soon after the resumption.

Meath Hill's Jason Yorke was fortunate to escape with a yellow card for the offence as referee Hugo Whoriskey adopted a generous interpretation of the rules.

Moylagh's flourish was over as quickly as it had started and points from Jason Yorke and Mooney restored Meath Hill's eight-point (1-10 to 0-5) advantage by the end of the third-quarter.

Moylagh rallied again and closed the gap with points from O'Reilly (free) and McLarney before they were denied a blatant penalty with 10 minutes remaining.

They kept going but were unable to make any major dent in the deficit despite late points from Eanna Brody (free) and Darren Gibney.

As the game ticked into five minutes of added time Meath Hill replied with a booming Jason Yorke point and another from susbtitute Mark Tully.