Meath advance in Leinster u-20 FC
Meath advanced to the Leinster u-20FC semi-final tonight with a hard-earned 1-12 to 0-12 victory against Offaly at Pairc Tailteann.
Meath went into this game aware that Offaly would provide a stern challenge following a first round win against Carlow and so it proved, but the hosts made the best possible start when Cian McBride had the ball in the Offaly net after only 55 seconds.
It was score that ultimately proved crucial and Meath added a quick point through John Keane for a 1-1 to 0-0 lead inside two minutes.
Offaly settled into the game and had a brace of points on the board from the impressive Cian Farrell before the Meath defence took control and restricted the opposition any clear chances until the closing minutes of the half.
Meath increased their advantage with a well-taken Luke Mitchell point, but Offaly countered when Cian Johnson sent over what was really a goal chance after Keith McDermott made the opening.
Meath upped the intensity and created chances that produced points from Jordan Morris, Daithi McGowan and a Liam Byrne '45' but that was as good as it got in the opening half for the hosts.
Offaly dictated the closing minutes, that included four added minutes, and clipped over points from Jack Bryant, Sean O'Toole, Jack O'Brien and a Farrell free that left them adrift by the minimum (0-7 to 1-5) at the interval.
However, Meath looked comfortable after the break and reeled off four unanswered third-quarter points from Mitchell, Matthew Costello, Byrne (free) and McGowan.
Byrne's effort was hugely impressive as it was free from about 55 metres and it helped Meath to a 1-9 to 0-8 advantage as the game headed into the final quarter.
Offaly's only score during that period was a Farrell pointed free.
Farrell converted another brace to get the Offaly lads going again as both teams squandered goal chances, but Meath had enough in the tank to fashion a response through McGowan and Connell Ahearne.
The flow of the game was disrupted with a number of injury stoppages that produced some eight minutes of added time, but this wasn't indicated to the large crowd and it turned into a real nailbiting conclusion.
Points from Offaly substitute Nathan Pollard with his first touch and another Farrell free left Meath defending a two-point advantage as the clock ticked into added time.
Meath substitute Danny Dixon's point left a goal in it and that fired up the Offaly challenge with a number of pinball-like action around the Royal County square.
The intensity produced a number of challenges that were unacceptable to referee Jonn Hickey and the consequences saw Cian McBride pick up a second yellow card while Offaly's Dan Wyer got a black card for waht looked like a red-card bodycheck on Meath centre-bvack John Keane.
Meath survived the intense Offaly pressure and the reward now is a trip to O'Moore Park, Portlaoise next Tuesday evening for a semi-final jost with Laois.
SCORERS
Meath Cian McBride 1-0; Daithi McGowan 0-3; Luke Mitchell 0-2; Liam Byrne 0-2 one '45', one free; John Keane 0-1; Jordan Morris 0-1;; Matthew Costello 0-1; Connell Ahearne 0-1; Danny Dixon 0-1.
Offaly - Cian Farrell 0-7 five frees; Cian JOhnson 0-1; Jack Bryant 0-1; Sean O'Toole 0-1; Jack O'Brien 0-1; Nathan
Pollard 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Andrew Beakey; Sean Ryan, Robbie Clarke, Cathal Hickey; Eoin Harkin, John Keane, Oisin Martyn;
Liam Byrne, Cian Swaine; Cian McBride, Matthew Costello, Connell Ahearne; Jordan Morris, Daithi McGowan,
Luke Mitchell. Subs - Danny Dixon for Swaine half-time; Sean Bannon for Martyn 45 mins, Aaron Lynch for
Mitchell 53m, Cathal Finnegan for Morris 56m, Darragh Nolan for Ahearne 59m.
Offaly - J Cullinan; A Bolger, A Bracken, C Kenna; C Donnelly, E Bennett, J O'Brien; J McEvoy, C Donoghue; S Farrell, C Farrell, S O'Toole; C Johnson, J Bryant, K McDermott. Subs - N Pollard for Bryant 40 mins, D Wyer for McEvoy 44m, E Dunne for O'Toole 53m, M Cunningham for McDermott 56m, K Dolan for Bracken 60m.
Black card - D Wyer (replaced by O Murphy 60m)
Referee- John Hickey (Carlow).