Meath show plenty of grit to win league tie

For all the personal satisfaction Seamus McEnaney took from putting one over his native county it was the level of the performance that most pleased the Meath manager as he watched his side get their NFL Div 2 campaign off to a winning start against Monaghan at Páirc Táilteann on Saturday night. There was still enough cause for concern following this easier than expected six-point victory, but despite the 65th minute dismissal of Paddy Gilsenan following two yellow cards there was also plenty of reasons for the Meath supporters to be cheerful. The experience of 12 months education in the Meath way has increased McEnaney's knowledge of his players and last Saturday night they played enough decent football to suggest a considerable improvement on his first year in charge. There was also reason for concern, especially at the fade out around midfield in the third-quarter. As Monaghan got on top in that area they launched several attacks that had the Meath defence on the backfoot. However, Monaghan failed to take advantage of that brief period of supremacy and that allowed Meath maintain their confidence, ride out the storm and open their league season with an impressive win. During their time in the ascendancy Monaghan kicked 10 wides between the 37th and 58th minute and that ensured that Meath's 0-13 to 1-7 lead at the time remained intact. Once they settled again, Meath returned to the fluency they showed in the first-half and despite Gilsenan seeing red for his second clumsy tackle they pulled further clear with Shane McAnarney adding a goal to put the icing on the cake. It was that superb football that Meath produced in the opening half that gives cause to optimism. Stephen Bray (pictured) will take the plaudits with six points, but several other players can be proud of their contributions. Graham Reilly was a constant threat, Gilsenan was a magnificent ball winner and substitute Joe Sheridan proved to be an excellent target man when introduced at half-time. Cian Ward's first start of the year was also a lively one and while both Seamus Kenny and Donncha Tobin were forced out of the action Meath were very fluent in attack and kicked some magnificent scores. Defensively Meath were also sound. Bryan Menton approached the full-back role with a no-nonsense attitude while his colleagues also coped admirably despite facing a deluge of third-quarter attacks. The reason for most of those mid-match problems arose from midfield. After giving everything to the cause in an excellent first-half Mark Ward and Brian Meade tired significantly and that allowed Monaghan back into contention. However, Meath settled again and with the introduction of the fresh legs of Conor Gillespie and Tom Walsh they pulled clear. The high quality football of the first-half became evident after a nervy opening. Meath had missed three good chances before Neil McAdam opened the scoring for Monaghan in the fourth minute. The hosts responded with Bray moving forward from his roving role to pop over two points. Again Monaghan battled back with Vinny Corey pointing from the left before Reilly edged the hosts ahead again. Paul Finlay was unusually wayward from a close range free before Eoin Duffy restored parity (0-3 each) at the end of the first-quarter. In a hectic two-minute spell the lead changed hands twice. Tobin shot straight at Mark Keogh before Brian Meade restored Meath's lead. That advantage lasted less than 30 seconds as James Turley's off-target shot deflected off McAnarney and past David Gallagher to push Monaghan 1-3 to 0-4 clear. Meath responded well and it was their reaction to the concession of that goal that effectively won the game. After Reilly and Monaghan corner-back Donal Morgan exchanged points Seamus McEnaney's men went on the offensive with Bray (two), Reilly and Cian Ward giving them a 1-9 to 0-4 lead. Some sloppy defending allowed Monaghan reply with scores from Duffy and Darren Hughes (a 53-metre free) that restored parity, but Meath finished the half on the front foot with Gilsenan securing a 0-10 to 1-6 interval lead. The third-quarter was very scrappy as Meath absorbed a lot of pressure. Monaghan kicked seven wides in that period as Meath added points from Bray (free), Gilsenan and Sheridan to move 0-13 to 1-6 ahead. Darren Hughes galloped forward from full-back to show the Monaghan forwards how to score, but Meath remained in command with Cian Ward replying immediately. Finlay hit back with Monaghan's last point, but the contest was put to bed with seven minutes remaining when McAnarney found the net following a sweeping move that involved Sheridan, Bray and Cian Ward to stretch Meath's lead to 1-14 to 1-9. Two minutes later Gilsenan saw red, but Bray capped a man-of-the-match performance with Meath's final score to get the NFL Div 2 campaign off to a winning start. SCORERS Meath - S Bray 0-6 two frees; G Reilly 0-3; S McAnarney 1-0; C Ward 0-2; P Gilsenan 0-2; B Meade 0-1; J Sheridan 0-1. Monaghan - J Turley 1-0; E Duffy 0-2; Darren Hughes 0-2 one free; P Finlay 0-2 one free; N McAdam 0-1; V Corey 0-1; D Morgan 0-1. THE TEAMS Meath - David Gallagher; Mickey Burke, Bryan Menton, Gary O'Brien; Chris O'Connor, Shane McAnarney, Cormac McGuinness; Brian Meade, Mark Ward; Seamus Kenny, Graham Reilly, Donncha Tobin; Paddy Gilsenan, Stephen Bray, Cian Ward. Subs - Joe Sheridan for Tobin half-time, Ciaran Lenehan for Kenny 47 mins, Tom Walsh for M Ward 55m, Conor Gillespie for Meade 60m. Monaghan - Mark Keogh; Donal Morgan, Darren Hughes, Colin Walsh; Dessie Mone, Vinny Corey, David Hughes; Eoin Lennon, James Turley; Neil McAdam, Eoin Duffy, Mark Downey; Paul Finlay, Kieran Hughes, Christopher McGuinness. Subs - Ronan McNally for Walsh 5 mins, Dermot Malone for David Hughes half-time, Stephen Gallogly for Downey half-time, Ciaran Hanratty for McGuinness 49m, Dick Clerkin for McAdam 65m. REFEREE Padraig Hughes (Armagh).