Abysmal second-half display as Meath lose to Cavan

Usually, when a team in blue inflicts misery on a Meath football team, it's Dublin, but today at an almost silent Pairc Táilteann it was the turn of pointless Cavan to heap the NFL Div 2 problems on the hosts as the Breffni men recorded a thoroughly deserved 1-20 to 1-13 victory.

Meath also finished with 14 men after Paddy O'Rourke collected another red card in the 73rd minute.

At that stage the Meath supporters were heading for the exit gates in silence.

There wasn't even the energy amongst the supporters to express any sentiments towards the Meath players who raced for the dressing room when referee Rory Hickey ended the yawn-inducing (from a Meath perspective) second-half.

Trying to understand or analyse the Meath performances in each half was what most of the home supporters were concentrating on - this was an amazing comeback by Cavan who were well out of contention at half-time.

Meath were ahead by 1-9 to 0-5 at the break but the seven-point cushion wasn't a true reflection of the possession that each side enjoyed.

Cavan were wasteful as they tallied nine wides and they were also denised a goal when Seanie Johnston's effort rebounded off the underside of the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

Thirty seconds earlier Eamon Wallace netted for the hosts, but the warning signs were there also as Cavan frequently and quite easily sliced through the Meath rearguard in that opening half only to waste some good chances.

Points from Johnston (two), Michael Argue, Gearoid McKiernan and Jason McLoughlin was all the Breffni men could muster in contrast to Meath who had four points from Michael Newman, a brace from Graham Reilly and one each by Wallace, Sean Tobin and Donnacha Tobin.

Meath resumed the second-half positively with a pointed Sean Tobin free extending the lead to eight points.

Then there was that 15-point turnaround as Cavan took control with Meath managing two more Wallace points and one from Sean Tobin for the remainder.

Ten Cavan players scored in the second-half with Johhnston sending over four points and Dara McVeety managed three while David Givney got the goal.

It was exhibition stuff from Cavan for the last 10 minutes as they kept possession.

Johnston received a standing ovation from the Cavan supporters when he was replaced with two minutes remaining.

Next up for Meath ia a trip to Galway next weekend.