Relegation battle looms following Semple slip up
For the second time in six days Meath failed to produce a performance of either substance or matter as they crumbled to a 1-10 to 2-15 defeat to Tipperary in Semple Stadium this evening.
Tonight's deflating loss, coupled with last Sunday's embarassment in Breffni Park leaves Meath dicing with the drop at the foot of NFL Div 2.
Such a scenario was unthinkable after the opening two rounds which saw Meath draw with Roscommon and then trounce Clare, but since then Meath have struggled and tonight's performance was equally as abject as the display against Cavan.
There was more energy to Meath in the opening quarter as they played more direct and effective football, but they still found scoring difficult.
Tipperary opened the scoring in the first minute and never trailed. The teams were only tied twice, once when Graham Reilly cancelled out Josh Keane's opener and again in the 15th minute when Sean Tobin pointed to make it 0-4 each. The rest of the game belonged to Tipperary.
The hosts stretched their lead to 0-7 to 0-4 and then to 0-5 to 0-8 before Meath were dealth a real hammerblow when Michael Quinlivan netted with the last kick of the half to stretch Tipperary's lead to 1-8 to 0-05 at the break.
Andy McEntee's half-time team talk looke to have a positive effect as Meath burst from the traps with points from Padraig McKeever (free), James McEntee and Graham Reilly closing the gap to 0-8 to 1-8 within two minutes of the restart, but then it all went pear-shaped again.
Bill Maher planted a second goal beyond Andy Colgan in the 46th minute to restore Tipperary's six-point cushion and there was no way back for Meath who lacked ideas andinvention going forward and allowed Tipperary keep the scoreboard ticking over to ensure an easy win that leaves them looking up and Meath looking down and out.
Tipperary – Evan Comerford; Shane O'Connell, John Meagher, Alan Camopbell; Bill Maher (1-0), Robbie Kiely, Jimmy Feehan; Liam Casey (0-1), Steven O'Brien (0-1); Kevin Fahey Josh Keane (0-1), Brian Fox; Conor Sweeney (0-9 four frees), Michael Quinlivan (1-1), Liam McGrath (0-1). Subs – Paddy Codd for O'Connell half-time, Liam Boland for Fahey 60 mins, George Hannigan for Casey 67m, Sean Carey (0-1) for McGrath 70m.
Meath – Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Donal Keogan; Dan O'Neill, Mickey Burke, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton (1-0), Harry Rooney; James McEntee (0-2), Eamon Wallace, Cillian O'Sullivan; Graham Reilly (0-2), Padriag McKeever (0-4 frees), Sean Tobin (0-1). Subs – Brian Power for O'Neill 28 mins, Bryan McMahon for Tobin 34m, Donal Lenihan for O'Sullivan 52m, Adam Flanagan for Rooney, Thomas O'Reilly (0-1) for McKeever both 57m, Brían Conlon for S McEntee 68m.
Referee – Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).