Meath fail first test

Meath's first game under their new boss ended in disappointment tonight as the students from UCD stunned Seamus McEnaney's side with a late goal to earn a 1-9 to 0-10 win. Meath now play Kilkenny in the Shield on SATURDAY in Pairc Tailteann, 2.0. The McEnaney era limped into life rather than the expected burst of excitement as an experimental Meath side laboured against Sigerson Cup hopefuls UCD and lost to an injury-time Josh Hayes goal in the O'Byrne Cup at Pairc Tailteann. Meath looked to have snatched victory when Shane McAnarney pointed in the 71st minute, but UCD had the final say as Hayes followed up on a superb save by Brendan Murphy to fist to the net in a goalmouth scramble. Overall it was a disappointing display. Few players will have endeared themselves to the new manager, although Davy Dalton, Ciaran Lenehan and Paddy Gilsenan did their prospects no harm. With a larger than expected crowd packing the stand many expected a lively display from the Meath players, but instead the opening half was a damp squid, livened only by some wild tackles by Meath's Cormac McGill and UCD's John O'Loughlin. Those who expected a bright start for their E10 entrance fee had to wait nine minutes for Meath's brightest spark Gilsenan to open the scoring. Prior to that the home side's forwards had misfired with Brian Sheridan and Cian Ward (free) dropping efforts short. After Gilsenan's opener Graham Reilly gave Michael Savage more catching practise in the UCD goals, but after 15 minutes Meath doubled their advantage when Cormac McGuinness galloped forward to show the forwards how it was done. Another short effort from Cian Ward was poorly cleared by Savage and Niall Mooney made it 0-3 to 0-0 to McEnaney's side. Gilsenan then dropped a fifth point attempt short as John Heslin and Kevin MGourty started to get a grip at midfield for the students. McGill's high tackle on O'Loughlin drew gasps from the crowd before Heslin converted the resultant free. Seconds later Offaly's Michael Brazil drove over a decent goal chance to leave a point between the sides. After a careless tackle by McGuinness on blood sub Stuart Nerney, Wexford star Ciaran Lyng levelled matters. A revenge tackle by O'Loughlin on McGill earned the Dublin student a yellow card, but UCD piled on the pressure and took the lead for the first time when Heslin pointed a free. A superb score from Reilly following great work by Brendan Murphy, Mooney and Shane McAnarney restored parity, but it was the students who took a half-time lead when Heslin fired over from distance to make it 0-5 to 0-4 at the break. A brace from Cian Ward edged Meath ahead within three minutes of the restart and when Reilly made it 0-7 to 0-5 Meath looked comfortable, but UCD were tenacious. Kevin McGourty and Heslin brought them level again, but again Cian Ward gave the hosts the edge. Dalton made it 0-9 to 0-7 with 15 minutes remaining, but the students finished strong. Heslin (two) restored parity again before McAnarney looked to have won it for Meath. However, it wasn't to be Meath's night as McEnaney's reign got off to a losing start. Meath – B Murphy; C McGill, J Macken, D Dalton (0-1); D Morgan, C McGuinness (0-1), C Lenehan; M Ward, C Gillespie; S McAnarney (0-1), C Ward (0-3, two free), N Mooney (0-1); G Reilly (0-2), B Sheridan, P Gilsenan (0-1). Subs – S Kenny for McGill half-time, D Keoghan for Sheridan 52mins, B Menton for Gillespie 65m, B Meade for Mooney 69m UCD – M Savage (Dublin); J Hayes (1-0, Cavan), C Forde, (Galway), M Fitzsimons (Dublin); S Redmond (Carlow), P Kelly (Kildare), C Brady (Monaghan); K McGourty (0-1, Antrim), J Heslin (0-6, four frees, Westmeath); J O'Loughlin (Laois), C Lyng (0-1 free, Wexford), J Cocoman (Kildare); C Kenny (Galway), D Larkin (Meath, Summerhill), M Brazil (0-1, Offaly). Subs – T Warburton (Westmeath) for Kelly 3 mins, L Smith (Westmeath) for Coco man 48m, S Nerney (Laois) for Redmond 51m, L Cawley (Mayo) for Larkin 56m, R Mallon (Down) for Brazil 65m, Referee – Paul Kneel (Louth).