Meath recover to maintain Div 2 status with victory over Louth

It was never seriously in doubt, but Meath had to work harder than they might have expected to secure their NFL Div 2 status following a nervy 1-12 to 0-7 victory over Louth at Drogheda today.

Trailing by one at the break, Meath gradually pulled further and further clear after the resumption and with Donal Lenihan adding 1-1 deep into injury-time it eased the Royal nerves and ensured Louth finished their last NFL campaign in the Gaelic Grounds Drogheda without point.

Described by one supporter as the “crucifixion in slow motion” the opening half was littered with poor football, worse decision making and many incidents of cynical play that saw three Louth players pick up yellow cards and a couple of others fortunate to avoid red before Tommy Durnin was sent-off in injury-time.

Meath started well and despite the boggy conditions inside the 45-metre line at the hospital end Paddy Kennelly managed to find his range after just 46 seconds, but they failed to score again for 23 minutes as passes went astray or backwards and decent positions were surrendered. 

Meath were strong defensively and despite having the advantage of the wind Louth struggled to trouble Donal Keogan, Conor McGill and Brian Power.

A late tackle on Conor Grimes gifted William Woods with Louth’s seventh minute equaliser and five minutes later Woods was on target again from another free after Mickey Burke fouled Ross Nally.

Declan Byrne surged forward to extend the hosts lead with their first score from play. In that spell Meath repeatedly coughed up possession before getting inside Louth's 45 and they also kicked three wides before James McEntee ended the barren spell with a 24th minute score to make it 0-2 to 0-3.

Woods missed attempt from a free drew a bigger cheer from the Meath supporters than McEntee’s point and two minutes later the visitors were level when Louth's effort to spoil a Meath move by fair means or foul failed as Graham Reilly and Keogan combined to set up Ben Brennan for a fine point.

Meath looked to have recovered from their dour spell, but it was Louth who took a 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead with Gerard McSorley pointing well.

Turning with the wind at their backs Meath were slow to get back on level terms. A brilliant point from Shane McEntee did restore parity five minutes into the second period and once Lenihan pointed them in front from a free two minutes later they never looked back.

Despite being the superior team, Meath struggled to put Louth away. An outstanding score from Joey Wallace made it 0-6 to 0-4 in the 46th minute and with a two-point deficit to overturn Louth looked a beaten docket.

A black card for Anthony Williams hastened his departure and from the resultant free Ben Brennan brilliantly extended Meath’s lead to three points. Shane McEntee palmed a great goal chance into the ground and the opportunity was lost, but it was all academic.

O'Sullivan made it 0-8 to 0-4 before Louth got off the mark in the second period with a Tadhg McEneaney free.

Meath’s response go that score was points from Reilly, Thomas O'Reilly and Lenihan in a four minute spell which stretched the advantage to 0-11 to 0-6.

Durnin and McEneaney added some respectability to Louth's tally, but Durnin then saw red following a late clash and a minute later Lenihan palmed Keogan's centre to the net and then the Dunboyne man added a point from a free to secure a deserved, if slightly flattering margin of victory.

Meath – Andy Colgan; Brian Power, Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; James McEntee (0-1), Donal Keogan, Shane McEntee (0-1); Bryan Menton, Paddy Kennelly (0-1); Eamon Wallace, Ben Brennan (0-2 one free), Graham Reilly (0-1); Cillian O'Sullivan (0-1), Sean Tobin, Donal Lenihan (1-3 two frees). Subs – Joey Wallace (0-1) for E Wallace 8 mins, Thomas O'Reilly (0-1) for Brennan 51m, Bryan McMahon for Tobin 67m, Brían Conlon for O'Sullivan 71m.

Louth – Neil Gallagher; Andrew Smith, Emmet Carolan, Fergal Donohoe; Ciaran Downey, Bevan Duffy, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin (0-1), Declan Byrne (0-1); Derek Maguire, Andy McDonnell, Gerard McSorley (0-1); Ross Nally, Conor Grimes, William Woods (0-2 frees). Subs – Tadhg McEneaney (0-2 frees) for Woods 54m, Aaron Khan for Smith, Paul Matthew for Downey both 63m. Black card – A Williams (replaced by Eimhin Keenan 48m).

Referee – Noel Mooney (Cavan).