Meath succumb to heavy loss in Derry

The bubble of optimism was well and truly burst in Owenbeg tonight as Meath's unbeaten start to NFL Div 2 was comprehensively ended by an impressive Derry side, 1-7 to 2-15.

The gulf in class between the sides was clear and the mountain of work ahead of Colm O'Rourke and his management team was obvious as Meath played second fiddle throughout and were a beaten docket by half-time.

The Ulster champions were always expected to provide Meath with their toughest test to date and that job of work got even harder just 45 seconds into the game as the hosts shipped an unfortunate goal as Ethan Doherty's shot took a deflection past Harry Hogan.

Whatever bit of luck Derry rode for that goal, they certainly weren't reliant on good fortune as they dominated every sector with their physicality and stubborn set-up proving difficult for Meath to rattle.

There were times in the second-half when Meath showed signs of improvement, but Derry's intensity could be questioned after the break as they were already well assured of the two points long before Thomas O'Reilly's 51st minute goal made it 1-4 to 2-9.

Off the platform of that early goal Derry settled quickly into the game and by the sixth minute they were 1-2 to 0-0 clear as Padraig McGrogan and Shane McGuigan added points.

It took Meath until the 10th minute to open their account and before that O'Reilly point they had dropped a couple of long deliveries well short and lost possession under pressure in the tackle.

Once O'Reilly did open his side's account Brian Conlon added a quick second to suggest Meath might claw their way back, but Derry's pressure was incessant and points from Paul Cassidy and Benny Heron from a mark restored their five-point cushion, 1-4 to 0-2.

A handy free gifted Donal Lenihan with Meath's third score, but again Derry responded ferociously using the wind to decent effect to get the ball forward and turn Meath with their pace off the shoulder.

A heroic block by Jack O'Connor on Cassidy yielded a '45' for the hosts which McGrogan converted and even after McGrogan missed a second '45' Derry continued to extend their lead with Cassidy and Doherty pointing at their leisure to put seven between the sides.

Just on the stroke of half-time any outside chance Meath had of recovering from that deficit disappeared when a superb move involving the excellent Doherty ended with Niall Toner bagging his side's second goal to make it 2-7 to 0-3 at the break - game over.

Meath needed a strong start to the second-half, but conceded the opening two points to Eoin McEvoy and McGuigan to extended Derry's lead to 12 points.

It was looking like a humiliation was on the cards for Meath, but instead of capitulating they dug deep with Lenihan pointing with his last kick of the contest before O'Reilly bagged a goal from close range, following good work by Cillian O'Sullivan and Jason Scully.

Again Derry's response was emphatic as they hit five points on the bounce from Heron (two), Cassidy, Doherty and McGuigan to make it 2-14 to 1-4.

Diar.muid Moriarty lofted over in a rare highlight for Meath before Aaron Lynch converted a free.

Meath did create several more chances, but dropped a couple of efforts short and another few wide of the target.

Ronan Jones produced another highlight with a brilliant score with the outside of his right from a standing position to close Meath's account.

Oisin McWilliams responded for Derry before Jack O'Connor saw his dipping effort from distance crash off the crossbar, but it was all too easy for Derry as Meath go back to the drawing board ahead of next Sunday's visit of Louth to Pairc Tailteann.

SCORERS

Derry - Ethan Doherty 1-2; Niall Toner 1-0; Shane McGuigan 0-3; Paul Cassidy 0-3; Benny Heron 0-3 one mark; Padraig McGrogan 0-2 one '45'; Eoin McEvoy 0-1; Oisin McWilliams 0-1.

Meath - Thomas O'Reilly 1-1; Donal Lenihan 0-2 one free; Brian Conlon 0-1; Diarmuid Moriarty 0-1; Aaron Lynch 0-1 free; Ronan Jones 0-1.

TEAMS

Derry - Odhran Lynch; Chrissy McKaigue, Eoin McEvoy, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty, Padraig McGrogan, Padraig Cassidy; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Loughlin. Subs - Oisin McWilliams for McKaigue 58 mins, Shea Downey for Doherty 61m, Matthew Downey for Heron 65m, Loclan Murray for Loughlin, Paul MacNeill for Glass both 68m.

Meath - Harry Hogan; Adam O'Neill, Michael Flood, Cathal Hickey; Jack O'Connor, Donal Keogan, Harry O'Higgins; Ronan Jones, Brian Conlon; Cillian O'Sullivan, Jason Scully, Darragh Campion; Jordan Morris, Donal Lenihan, Thomas O'Reilly. Subs - Daithi McGowan for Conlon, Shane Crosby for Campion both half-time, Diarmuid Moriarty for Lenihan 48 mins, Eoin Harkin for O'Higgins 54m, Aaron Lynch for O'Reilly 58m.

Referee - Liam Devanney (Mayo).