McGrath penalty seals late win for Meath Hill

Meath Hill's Pierce McGrath hit a 60th minute penalty goal that was sufficient to claim the A FL Div 3 title following a thrilling2-10 to 1-12 replay victory over Bective at Pairc Tailteann this evening.

Bective were hanging on to a one-point lead when Meath HIll's Ian Malone was hauled down and referee Patrick Coyle awarded the penalty which McGrath duly converted.

Bective got it back to the minimum from Paul McCabe's point, but they squandered a chance subsequently to force extra-time and Meath Hill prevailed.

The game had started so well for Bective who dominated 25 of the opening 30 minutes, but failed to make enough of the opportunities they created during that period and paid the price when they trailed by a point (0-5 to 0-6) at the interval.

There was only one team in it for thsoe opening 25 minutes and that gave Bective a chance to establish a solid foundation, but  all they had to show was three Marty Mulhall points from play and one each by Kevin Brennan and Brian Cantwell.

The wide tally was returned at six for Bective and most of those were reasonable scoring chances.

Meath Hill laboured to register pointed frees from Ian Malone and Pierce McGrath until they went on a scoring spree in the final three minutes of the half and added two Jack McMahon frees and one each from play by Malone and Tomas Smith.

Bective half-time substitute Cathal McConnell made an instant impact when he provided the defence-splitting pass that gave Sean Keating a goal chance - the Meath HIll net bulged after only 25 seconds.

The teams traded points for the remainder of the third-quarter as Bective held on to a 1-7 to 0-9 advantage after Mark O'Brien and Paul McCabe sent over while Jack McMahon (two) and Smith kept Meath Hill in touch.

Mulhall extended Bective's lead from a free that was moved forward by referee Patrick Coyle and then Meath Hill goalie Chris Yorke twice blocked goalbound shots.

Making the most of that reprieve Meath Hill countered and Aodhan Matthews fired them into the lead again with a well-finished goal.

Points from McCabe and Keating put Bective in front again and then McMahon for Meath Hill and Mulhall for Bective traded points to leave Bective with a 1-11 to 1-10 advantage in the 59th minute.

Never write off Meath Hill when the clock is still ticking and they hit that late penalty to claim a sensational victory.