Nobber stage remarkable comeback
If there was a prize for the most unlikely, most dramatic comeback in the Meath IFC this year it would surely go to Nobber after this evening's heroics in Kells.
They defeated Walterstown 3-8 to 0-16 in the quarter-finals of the IFC - and what a route they took.
Down ten points five minutes into the second-half it looked hopeless for the north Meath side but they came back in the second-half with substitute Jamie Owens firing home two goals.
Thomas Murtagh scored Nobber's opening goal on 54 minutes to really spark the revival.
Owens's first goal arrived on 55 minutes to leave it 2-7 to 0-15 and his second was a injury time strike that arrived in the second minute of injury to ensure Nobber won in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Walterstown had Lorcan O'Connor dismissed in the second-half and he was a loss as he was having a good game until he was forced leave the fray.
Brian O'Connell top scored for Walterstown who were by some way the better team until the last five minutes or so. Barry O'Connell and Ruairi O'Down were also outstanding for the Blacks but Nobber progess.
SCORERS
Nobber - Jamie Owens 2-0; Sean Meade 0-5 frees; Thomas Murtagh 1-0; Dean Halpin 0-1; Dale Larkin 0-1; Brendan Heffernan 0-1.
Walterstown - Brian O'Connell 0-6 two frees; Barry O'Connell 0-3; David Donnellan 0-2 one free; Ruairi O'Dowd 0-2; Alan Wall 0-1; Paul Donnellan 0-1; Adam Treanor 0-1.
TEAMS
Nobber - Dary Hutchinson; Seamus Fagan, Eanna Fagan, Barry Cassidy; Barry Bradley, Niall Farrell, Dean Halpin; Thomas Murtagh, Alan Farrell; Lorcan McEntee, Sean Meade, Dale Larkin; Jojo Ogunbe, Decland Shields, Brendan Heffernan. Subs - Jamie Owens for McEntee 53 mins, Paddy Clarke for A Farrell 54m.
Walterstown - John Davis; Brendan McGuinness, Cathal Hennelly, Ciaran Cox; Conor Farrelly, Daivd Reynolds, Lorcan O'Connor; Alan Wall, Barry O'Connell; Adam Quinn, Paul Donnellan, Mark McCormack; David Donnellan, Ruairi O'Dowd, Brian O'Connell. Subs - Mark Foy for O'Dowd, Adam Treanor for P Donnellan, Ross Reynolds for McGuinness all 41 mins, Aran McLoughlin for D Donnellan 48m.
Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).
* Further analysis of this remarkable game in next issue of the Meath Chronicle
Championship Round-up
Na Fianna achieved a shock win over Trim in the SFC while Curraha also overturned the odds to defeat St Colmcille's.
The results were:
Senior Football Championship quarter-final
Na Fianna 1-10 Trim 0-10
Senior Football Championship relegation play-off
Curraha 1-14 St. Colmcille's 0-14
Intermediate Football Championship quarter-finals
Nobber 3-8 Walterstown 0-16
Dunshaughlin 1-12 Rathkenny 1-9
Intermediate Football Championship relegation play-off
Clann na nGael 1-24 Kilmainham 4-11
Junior Football Championship relegation play-off
Moynalty 1-13 Carnaross 1-12