Updated: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 4:54pm

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Disappointing performance against DCU

by Fergal Lynch

DCU 0-16, Meath 0-13

Barry Regan in action for Meath against DCU during Sunday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final at Pairc Tailteann.

Finishing with as many scores as players didn't help Meath's cause as they exited the O'Byrne Cup at the penultimate hurdle following a disappointing defeat at home to the students from Dublin City University (DCU) at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

While defeat was disappointing enough, there was also plenty of other causes for concern, most notably the straight red card issued to Brian Meade in the 30th minute following an off-the-ball clash with Conor Rafferty that will rule the Rathkenny man out of Meath's opening NFL Div 2 games against Armagh and Down.

There is a tendency to get carried away with criticism when Meath perform poorly, but the circumstances of Sunday's game and with bigger challenges ahead should put the defeat into perspective.

Coming just four days after the pulsating quarter-final replay victory over Dublin, Meath were forced to make seven changes and were also without a number of key players because of injury.

The DCU management also made 13 changes from the side that beat Offaly in their quarter-final, but they still could call on several players with a wealth of inter-county experience.

It was one of those experienced players, Paddy Andrews, that caused the most problems for Meath. The Dublin player was listed to play at centre-back, but took his place at corner-forward and tormented Meath with an enterprising display.

Meade's 30th minute dismissal did have a major impact on the game as it restricted Meath from developing the superiority they enjoyed early in the game into sufficient scores subsequently. The sides were numerically squared up with 11 minutes remaining when Rafferty, who had been flirting with a red card for most of the contest, was eventually sent-off for a second yellow.

However, that parity only lasted five minutes as Barry Regan got the luxury of an early shower when he was also sent-off for a second booking.

Those dismissals, an argument between Meath manager Eamonn O'Brien and some DCU officials at half-time and the increasing frustration at the poor refereeing by Derek Fahy were the talking points on an otherwise disappointing afternoon.

Fahy was overly fussy with his interpretation of the experimental handpass rule and as a result reduced the game to a stop-start contest with 56 frees that left the decent-sized crowd frustrated. He also made several other baffling decisions that drew a chorus of boos from the Meath support and sarcastic applause from the lone DCU supporter in the stand.

There will be very few positives that O'Brien can take from this contest. The team did work hard, but failed to punish DCU when they were on top.

Indiscipline in defence will be a concern and more worryingly when Meath made errors in attack they were slow to react to stop DCU on the counter-attack.

On the plus side O'Brien did manage to get 70 minutes into Nigel Crawford, Stephen Bray and Cian Ward and he may also have become more aware of the shortcomings of a number of others who might not make the grade for what is sure to be an even more competitive league campaign.

Ollie Lewis enhanced his standing with the supporters with two fine points and another all-action display. Niall Mooney showed plenty of enterprise and worked hard and with several others doing well throughout the O'Byrne Cup campaign, O'Brien can be pleased with what he has achieved in the competition - a stronger panel.

Despite playing below par, Meath will be disappointed with this reversal. They were never headed until the 66th minute when Roscommon youngster Cathal Cregg edged the students in front for the first time, but despite Meath's overwhelming dominance of possession they were never any more than three points clear at any stage.

It had looked promising for the hosts in the early moments. After Hugh Gill was booked inside 20 seconds Ward pointed Meath ahead and when Stephen Kennedy doubled the advantage two minutes later it looked set to be a comfortable afternoon for the Royals.

Shane Roche punished Meade for a foul on Hugh McGrillan with the first of his seven pointed frees before Ward restored Meath's two-point cushion. Another Roche free and a blistering effort from Rafferty that was tipped over the bar by Paddy O'Rourke restored parity, but Meath were the better team and with points from Lewis (two), Ward (two frees) and Mooney they were 0-8 to 0-6 ahead before Meade's departure.

Roche's accuracy kept DCU in the contest and his fifth point closed the gap to 0-7 to 0-8 at the interval. Within 17 seconds of the restart Bray stretched Meath's lead and when Ward lofted over superbly the game looked to be getting away from the Dublin students.

However, DCU reacted well. Ward's '45' was Meath's sole response to points from Roche, Simon Shorthall and Rafferty and despite another free from the Wolfe Tones attacker they couldn't shake off the Collins Avenue school. Rafferty's marching orders didn't inspire Meath and there was no change to the 0-12 to 0-11 lead when Regan was dismissed with six minutes remaining.

In those closing minutes all Meath could muster was another Ward free as DCU advanced to meet Louth in the final with closing, crucial scores from Cregg (two), Ray Cullivan, Seneschalstown's Brian Sheridan and the influential Andrews.

DCU - Michael Boyle (Donegal); Luke Bree (Sligo), Neil Collins (Roscommon), Eoin Culligan (Dublin); Simon Shortall (Laois, 0-1), Kevin Nolan (Dublin), Hugh Gill (Dublin); Ray Cullivan (Cavan, 0-1), Hugh McGrillan (Kildare); Cathal Cregg (Roscommon, 0-2), Michael Lyng (Cavan), Darren Bishop (Monaghan); Paddy Andrews (Dublin, 0-2), Conor Rafferty (Louth, 0-2), Shane Roche (Wexford, 0-7, seven frees). Subs - Darach Mooney (Monaghan) for Collins 24 mins, Craig Dunleavy (Dublin) for McGrillan 45m, William Mulhall (Offaly) for Lyng 54m, Liam O'Donovan (Dublin) for Roche 59m, Brian Sheridan (Meath, 0-1 free) for Bishop 62m.

Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Shane McAnarney, James Macken, Niall McKeigue; Gary O'Brien, Barry Regan, Stephen Sheridan; Nigel Crawford, Damien Sheridan; Stephen Bray (0-1), Niall Mooney (0-1), Ollie Lewis (0-2); Brian Meade, Cian Ward (0-8, five frees, one '45'), Stephen Kennedy (0-1). Subs - Chris O'Connor for S Sheridan 48 mins, Michael Burke for McAnarney 53m, Conor Gillespie for D Sheridan 53m, Peadar Byrne for Kennedy 60m.

Referee - Derek Fahy (Longford).