Meath recover from slow start to claim All-Ireland gold
After a slow start Meath found the momentum required to carry them to a 2-19 to 0-19 victory over Derry in the All-Ireland u-20 B final at Newry tonight.
Peter Durnin's side struggled to come to terms with a lively Derry side early on however they found their form after the break to secure a convincing victory with Trim's Mikey Cole firing home two goals that proved decisive.
Only three days after helping Trim to a dramatic victory over Ratoath in the SHC final Cole was again in action this time in the green and gold.
His first goal arrived on 21 minutes and gave his team a major boost when they needed it.
The ball was played high into the Derry square from well out the field by the outstanding James Murray. Cormac Keyes went seeking possession and he sought to gain control but he was closely marked. The ball fell kindly for Cole who fired home from close range. It was a real forward's goal. The finish assured.
The sides went into the break on level terms, 1-8 to 0-11 and Meath were somewhat fortunate to be on equal terms as they played in only stops and starts in that opening half.
However, they came out for the second-half a much more focused, determined outfit. They played structured, constructive hurling and they took a major step to victory when on 52 minutes Ian Birmingham and Keyes were involved in a move that ended with Cole firing to the net.
That goal put Meath 2-16 to 0-16 in front and from that stage on they always looked the most likely winners.
Cole finished with 2-2 while Murray, who also played in last Sunday's SHC final, capped a fine contribution with 11 points, seven frees, one '65.'
Justin Coyne and Jack Lanigan capped energetic enterprising displays with two points apiece while Jack Cottrell and Keyes also split the posts with fine efforts.
Derry proved by some distance the better side in the opening 20 minutes or so but they couldn't put significant distance between themselves and the tenacous Royal County. Darragh McGilligan topscored for the Oak Leaf County with eight points, six frees while Shea Cassidy also made a significant contribution with four points.
Most of the scores of these two players came from placed balls which underlined the point that while Derry steadily added to their account in the opening half it was from frees conceded by Meath.
No doubt the Meath management had a word with the players - "don't give away easy frees" - because Derry's opportunities were severely limited in the second-half both from frees and play.
It was also significant that Meath hit 12 points over the course of the game compared to eight from Derry. Meath were creating the chances just not taking enough of them.
Defensively Meath become more and more robust as the game went on ensuring Derry were unable to get the goal or two they so badly need. Instead Cole's goal-poaching instincts proved decisive.
Another player who was involved in last Sunday's county final was Ratoath's Cian Kelly who captained Meath tonight with his leadership and defensive qualities helping his team make it across the line.
This was a magnificent victory for Durnin who is managing an inter-county team for the first time this year. A significant success also for Meath hurling.
SCORERS
Meath - James Murray 0-11, Mikey Cole 2-2; Justin Coyne 0-2; Jack Lanigan 0-2; Jack Cottrell 0-1; Cormac Keyes 0-1.
Derry - Darragh McGilligan 0-8 six frees; Eoghan Cassidy 0-2; Shea Cassidy 0-4 frees; Leo Passmore 0-2 frees; Padhraig Nelis 0-1; Jack Cassidy 0-1; Ryan McGill 0-1.
TEAMS
Meath - Conor Ryan; Ben Holden, Gary Fleming, Dylan Farrell (Killyon); Adam O'Connor, Cian Kelly, Conor Fitzgerald; Justin Coyne, Dylan Farrell (Trim); Jack Lanigan, Ian Bermingham, James Murray; Jack Cottrell, Cormac Keyes, Mikey Cole. Subs - Brian Moore for Dylan Farrell (Trim) 49 mins, Josh Harris for Cottrell 54m, Luke Horan for Coyne 60m.
Derry - Leo Passmore; Dara Simpson, Aodhan O'Hagan, Karl McGilligan; Ronan McKenna, Cormac Collins, James O'Connor; Eoghan Cassidy, Jack Cassidy; Padhraic Nelis, Thomas McKeagney, Darragh McGilligan; Shea Cassidy, Padraig O'Kane, Ryan McGill. Subs - Emmett Donnelly for O'Kane half-time, Mark McEldowney for Simpson 37m, Ciaran Regan for Collins 41m, Kosta Papachristopoulos for O'Connor 45m, Ryan McPeake for McKeagney 48m.
Referee - Colm McDonald (Antrim).
SEE QUOTES, REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM GAME IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE