Reilly factor made the difference

Meath 0-16, Wicklow 0-11 Fears of failure were safely allayed at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow on Sunday as Meath survived a shaky start to book their place in the Leinster SFC quarter-finals following victory over a resilient Wicklow side. Against the back drop of Meath's NFL Div 2 relegation and Wicklow's NFL Div 4 success it had been suggested that Seamus McEnaney's side might struggle to make it beyond this first round test. However, with a display that served to prove the doubters wrong, Meath were more substance than style in their application, although there was also plenty to admire about the performance as they scored 15 points from play in contrast to Wicklow's five. After a dodgy start which left Meath 0-0 to 0-5 adrift after just 14 minutes the Royals settled and restricted Wicklow to just two more points from play, one in the second-half, as the Garden County ran out of ideas and finished with 14 men following the 67th minute dismissal of James Stafford. By the time Stafford received his second yellow card it was already obvious that Wicklow's race was run. Meath were playing at a significantly higher level and although David Gallagher had to be alert to save from Conor McGraynor late on, the 2010 Leinster champions looked comfortable. The same couldn't be said after 14 minutes when Meath looked nervous, anxious and lacking in confidence while Wicklow were determined to use the wind to their advantage and punish their opponent's unease. However, in their efforts to get off to a blistering start Wicklow expended a lot of energy and as the match progressed struggled to cope with Meath's superior fitness, intensity, creativity and will to win. No one epitomised those attributes more than Graham Reilly and Kevin Reilly. Both were outstanding and while Graham Reilly received the man-of-the-match award for his five excellent points, it was his O'Mahonys namesake that provided the rock upon which the foundations for victory were laid. Kevin Reilly was imperious throughout as he silenced the effect of ace attacker Seanie Furlong keeping him scoreless from play. He also drove forward to inspire confidence and it was his total dominance that set the tone for Meath's afternoon. Graham Reilly (pictured) operated from midfield and had a day that dreams are made of. Wicklow couldn't cope with him as he displayed every attribute of the game by defending deep when necessary and driving his team forward with some excellent points. After the collective sub-par performance during the opening quarter when few Meath players could have been proud of their efforts, McEnaney's men found a different level. Donal Keogan, who was a 10th minute replacement for the injured Seamus Kenny, performed like a veteran, sweeping up breaking ball and often leading the charge from the back. Shane McAnarney was another who proved hugely reliable when clearing danger and galloping forward. After enduring a few anxious moments on Sean McGrath, Donncha Tobin also settled well and with Bryan Menton providing a solid half-back line Meath were defensively sound, conceding just five points from play. Mickey Burke snuffed out the threat of the unfortunate Leighton Glynn, who had to be stretchered-off after 42 minutes following a challenge on Cian Ward which led to the free that gave Meath a lead they didn't relinquish. The early exchanges suggested Wicklow might dominate the aerial battle around midfield, but as Brian Meade and Conor Gillespie became more prominent, Meath soon got a grip in that sector and that gave an excellent launch pad for a sizzling attacking display. Graham Reilly's five-point haul from midfield was the highlight, as was an excellent first-half contribution of Brian Farrell. The Nobber man has been much maligned over the years, but he kicked some crucial scores at vital times to keep Meath in the game when Wicklow threatened to run away with it. Debutants Alan Forde and Mark Collins also showed some fine touches and will learn from the experience while the physical presence of Joe Sheridan caused problems for Anthony McLoughlin. Cian Ward soldiered hard with a lot of unheralded work. His pace caused problems and although he kicked Meath's only score from a free, it was his overall link play and contribution that impressed. The future didn't look so bright for Meath in the opening quarter as McGrath opened the scoring for Wicklow after 35 seconds and doubled that lead two minutes later. A simple free from Tony Hannon, after Kenny had been harshly adjudged to have over-carried, was followed by another converted free for Wicklow before Meath even managed an attack. When Meath did have their first attempt at the target, Ward arrowed a free wide and when Sheridan's shot was deflected onto the post by John Flynn from a point blank position after Graham Reilly's effort had come off the upright it seemed destined to be Wicklow's day. Kevin Reilly's sole error gifted a point to Stephen Byrne and although Farrell and Sheridan responded for Meath, Wicklow restored their five-point cushion when Hannon pointed a '45' and Furlong scored from a free. Then it was Meath's turn to take over. Three points in as many minutes from Farrell (two) and Collins closed the gap to 0-5 to 0-7. McGrath edged Wicklow three ahead, but Forde fisted over and Graham Reilly pointed with the last kick of the half to leave just a point between the sides 0-7 to 0-8. It took Graham Reilly 11 seconds after the restart to restore parity and Meath didn't look back as Ward converted the free that he had earned and ended Glynn's involvement, and Graham Reilly added two more to make it 0-11 to 0-8. Rory Finn and Hannon (free) traded scores with Graham Reilly and Farrell as Meath maintained their three-point cushion, 0-13 to 0-10, after 58 minutes. Gallagher's save was soon followed by Stafford's red card following a foul on Forde and a minute into the eight minutes of injury-time Jamie Queeney made it 0-14 to 0-10. Meath were fortunate not to concede a goal when Gallagher fumbled a point attempt, but Menton blocked on the line at the expense of a '45' which Hannon converted. However, Meath were comfortable and closed out the contest with Sheridan and Queeney adding the cherry to seal the win and secure a quarter-final shot at Carlow on Sunday 10th June. SCORERS Meath - G Reilly 0-5; B Farrell 0-4; J Sheridan 0-2; J Queeney 0-2; C Ward 0-1 free; M Collins 0-1; A Forde 0-1. Wicklow - T Hannon 0-5 three frees, two '45s'; S McGrath 0-3; S Furlong 0-1 free; S Byrne 0-1; R Finn 0-1. THE TEAMS Meath -David Gallagher; Mickey Burke, Kevin Reilly, Shane McAnarney; Donncha Tobin, Bryan Menton, Seamus Kenny; Conor Gillespie, Graham Reilly; Alan Forde, Cian Ward, Brian Meade; Brian Farrell, Joe Sheridan, Mark Collins. Subs - Donal Keogan for Kenny nine mins, Jamie Queeney for Collins 55m, Peadar Byrne for G Reilly 65m, Brian Sheridan for Ward 70m, Damien Carroll for Forde 70+3m. Wicklow - J Flynn; C Hyland, A McLoughlin, A Byrne; D Healy, S Byrne, S Kelly; J Stafford, R Finn; L Glynn, D O'Sullivan, D Hayden; T Hannon, S Furlong, S McGrath. Subs - P Burke for O'Sullivan half-time, P Earls for Glynn 42 mins, N Gaffney for A Byrne 47m, C McGraynor for McGrath 52m, J Bolger for S Byrne 60m. REFEREE Padraig Hughes (Armagh).