Solid performance earns final ticket

Meath survived their Middletown experience and earned a place in the NHL Div 2B final following this victory over Armagh that was not as comfortable as the scoreline might suggest. The Meath players went into this game knowing that a victory would secure a place in the final against Kildare, but for long periods in the opening half it didn't look good for the visitors. Armagh, hammered in the last round when Kildare won by 7-30 to 0-7, opened at a furious pace and had Meath on the back foot for long periods as the lead changed hands on a number of occasions in the opening 20 minutes. Armagh were dealt an early blow when they lost full-forward Declan Coulter after only two minutes. Coulter gave Armagh a first minute lead, but then sustained an injury and was replaced by Conor Coulter. Meath had a couple of early goal chances with Noel Kirby, who started at full-forward in place of the injured Nicky Horan, squandering the first opportunity and then Derek Doran was denied by the post. Kirby's seventh minute pointed free got Meath on the scoreboard, although there was no scoreboard and that resulted in an on-going series of enquiries to the two reporters standing on the sideline throughout the opening half. It was one of the more amusing incidents at a venue that was completley bereft of the basic facilities that would be expected at an inter-county venue - it was so bad that it even made the press box in Pairc Tailteann look like a luxury. The points flowed as Stephen Donoghue, Ray Massey, Stephen Clynch and Kirby split the posts while David Carvill, James King, Martin Maguire and Ruairi McGrattan replied for Armagh. That left it level at 0-5 apiece after 25 minutes, but Clynch edged Meath in front from a well-struck free soon after. Meath then enjoyed some good fortune. Armagh were awarded a penalty following a foul on Maguire, but Ryan Gaffney's rising effort was stopped and cleared by Paul Fagan. Meath countered swiftly and Doran found Kirby who pointed for a vital score. The Royal County closed out the half with points from Eoin Marsh and Kirby for a 0-9 to 0-6 interval lead as Carvill's late pointed free kept Armagh in touch. The third-quarter produced one point - Clynch converted a ninth minute free that extended Meath's lead. Armagh expended a lot of energy for no return and eventually ran out of fuel and ideas as Meath wrestled control with Clynch particularly effective. The Kilmessan man sent over a free and a '65' and Kirby also registered for a 0-13 to 0-6 advantage with 10 minutes remaining. When James Kelly rifled the sliotar to the net there was no way back for the hosts and substitute Peter Durnin exploded into action with three points in as many minutes following his introduction for Marsh. Mission accomplished and the stern test will stand Meath in good stead ahead of a more difficult assignment against Kildare on Sunday 15th April. Meath - Shane McGann; Cormac Reilly, Damien Healy, Stephen Morris; Enda Keogh, Paul Fagan, James Toher; Stephen Clynch (0-5 three frees, one '65'), Stephen Donoghue (0-2); Noel Kirby (0-6 three frees), Ray Massey (0-1), Sean Heavey (0-1); Eoin Marsh (0-1), Derek Doran, James Kelly (1-0). Subs - Colm O Mealoid for Massey 40 mins, Peter Durnin (0-3) for Marsh 61m, Ciaran Fitzsimons for Donoghue 67m, Eoin Potterton for Reilly 68m, Anthony Donnelly for Healy 70m. Armagh - S Doherty; C McKee, C Clifford, K McKernan; P Gaffney, R McGrattan (0-1), N Curry; C Carvill, J King (0-1); R Gaffney, M Maguire (0-1), D Carvill (0-3 two frees); M Moen, D Coulter (0-1), C Corvan. Subs - E Carvill for D Coulter two mins, F Bradley for Corvan 43m, A Carvill for King 50m, M Garvey for McKee 58m, C Coulter (0-1) for E Carvill 62m. Referee - Declan Magee (Down).