Meath slump to first defeat
This was a game Meath will want to wipe from the memory banks fairly quickly as they slumped to a 1-12 to 2-14 loss to Cavan in Breffni Park today.
Meath may have dominated possession in the first-half, but using the wind to good effect Cavan found the scores easier to come by as they opened the scoring in the third minute with Caoimhin O'Reilly pointing from the host's first attack.
Tremendous persistency from Bryan McMahon and outstanding close control skills from Eamon Wallace saw the latter equalise for Meath, but they didn't score again for 20 minutes as they kicked wide after wide and turned over possession all to easily.
O'Reilly restored Cavan's lead in the eighth minute and two minutes later Bryan Magee converted a 47 metre free after Padraig McKeever needlessly fouled Ciaran Brady.
More slack defending allowed Niall Clerkin make it 0-4 to 0-1 and a minute later the same player stretched Cavan's lead to four points after another poor kickout from Andy Colgan had drifted over the sideline.
Adrian Cole made it 0-6 to 0-1 by the 14th minute as Meath continued to squander possession, turning the ball over nine times in the opening quarter.
Dara McVeety added to Cavan's tally before Graham Reilly finally ended Meath's barren spell with a lofted point, but Cavan's response was emphatic as the Meath rearguard dallied in the 27th minute.
Cole's speculative point attempt came back off the upright where Conor Moynagh reacted quickest and held off Brian Power to angle the ball to the net in off the post.
Clerkin added a point three minutes later as Cavan raced 1-8 to 0-2 clear.
A minor flurry late in the half gave Meath hope with their biggest threat Eamon Wallace pointing well before McKeever converted a 40-metre free to close the gap to 0-4 to 1-8 at the break.
The threatened Meath recovery after the resumption never materialised as they continued to labour in attack while giving away possession and allowing Cavan pick up 'soft' scores including their second goal which came after Cillisn O'sullivan and Reilly pointed either side of scores from Magee (free) and Gearoid McKiernan.
The second goal came courtesy of Ciaran Brady who was brilliantly picked out by Cian Mackey.
A minute later Meath were awarded a penalty after O'Sullivan was fouled, burt it was four minutes before the kick was taken as the players exchaged in some 'handbags' before Donal Lenihan converted the kick to make it 1-6 to 2-10.
Meath had hoped the goal would spark a bit of life into their limp display, but Cavan shut them out well as they shared the next six points with scores from Bryan Menton, O'Sullivan and Dan O'Neill countered by efforts from O'Reilly (free), Raymond Galligan ('45') and Killian Clarke.
Points from Mckeever and Menton did spark a bit of life into Meath, but Cavan responded with a brilliant score from McKiernan to make it 2-14 to 1-11.
Another McKeever free was all Meath could muster in the five minutes of injury-time as they fell to their first defeat in desperately disappointing fashion.
Cavan – Raymond Galligan (0-1 '45'); Niall Murray, Padraig Faulkner, David Phillips; Martin Reilly, Ciaran Brady, Enda Flanagan; Killian Clarke (0-1), Bryan Magee (0-2 frees); Dara McVeety (0-1), Conor Moynagh (1-0), Oisin Kiernan; Caoimhin O'Reilly (0-3 one free), Adrian Cole (0-1), Niall Clerkin (0-3). Subs – Gearoid McKiernan (0-2) for Cole, Cian Mackey for Clerkin both half-time, Jason McLoughlin for Phillips 51 mins, Stephen Murray for Flanagan, Thomas Galligan for O'Reilly 63m, Ryan Connolly for Magee 68m.
Meath - Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Donal Keogan; Brían Conlon, Brian Power, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton (0-2), Adam Flanagan; James McEntee, Padraig McKeever (0-3 two frees), Graham Reilly (0-1); Eamon Wallace (0-2), Cillian O’Sullivan (0-2), Bryan McMahon. Subs – Donal Lenihan (1-0 penalty) for McMahon half-time, Harry Rooney for Flanagan 42 mins, Sean Tobin for J McEntee, Dan O'Neill (0-1) for Conlon 54m, Thomas O'Reilly for Reilly 62m, Black card – H Rooney (replaced by Caolach Halligan 60m).
Referee – Ciaran Brangan (Down).