Bulfin's Boys show true grit to win battle royale

Regan points the way to Meath triumph

The tag of favourites can sometimes seem like a concrete necklace around the necks of those who are given that unwanted label. It can weight them down.

Meath were strong favourites to win the NHL Div 2B final at Carrick-on-Shannon today and they did claim a victory (0-20 to 0-14) with relative comfort in the end with Jack Regan hitting 11 points - but this was a struggle, a real battle. A battle royale.

Outsiders they might have been but Donegal produced an enterprising, sprightly display that rubbished any suggestion they were merely playing a bit part, a supporting role.

It says a lot for Meath's fortitude, their determination and high level of conditioning that they won out in the end because this was a one of the most difficult assignments they have had to face all campaign.

Maybe it had nothing to do with the fact that they were favourites but it's impossible to avoid the conclusion that it had some role to play in how the afternoon worked out. That somewhere deep in the team's collective consciousness it had an effect.

Meath found it very difficult to shake Donegal off until near the end.

The game ebbed and flowed throughout right up to the closing stages when the Royals eventually took control and reeled off a series of unanswered points that helped them across the line. To victory.

The gritty nature of Meath's performance was needed in order to overcome not only the doughty Ulster side, who had shocked Wicklow in the semi-final, but also the heavy pitch which at least was playable allowing the game to go ahead.

Seoirse Bulfin's side led most of the way but in the second-half they slipped a point behind and it looked like they could become bogged down in the face of Donegal's resolute display. However, Meath showed the stuff of real champions by pulling away near the end. They did what champions need to do, they found a response when it was needed most.

They were in front 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval and struggled with Donegal's cohesive, coherent passing in the early stages of the second-half. The Ulster side popped over the opening three points of the second-moiety before Regan replied with three points to edge his side back in front.

Then an incident occurred that had a huge bearing on this game. Donegal, as was their wont, engineered a dangerous attack. Richie Ryan found their chief marksman Liam McKinney with a pass. McKinney, who scored eight points, was had a clear sight on the Meath goals. He took aim and unleashed a shot that looked destined for the net. Charlie Ennis executed a brilliant save to turn the ball away.

Regan scored yet another of his points from a free soon after and from then on Meath stayed in front, although it was only in those closing stages that they started to put any substantial daylight between the teams.

Ennis was one of Meath's heroes. Regan, obviously, another. Damien Healy and James Toher mopped up a lot of possession. Midfilders Sean Geraghty and Martin Healy toiled manfully in the engine room as they had to in order to counteract Donegal's uncanny ability to win ball around the centre sector.

Eamon O Donnchadha had a fine first-half especially and he ended up with three points over the hour. The ball into him was intermittent in the second-half, something that underlined the problems Meath faced. Stephen Morris and Padraig O'Hanrahan capped busy displays with a fine point apiece although the latter's hand injury he carried into the game no doubt restricted him.

Another big contributor was young Daire Shine who came on and whipped over two sweet, wonderful points in the closing stages that helped to put down Donegal's stubborn resistance - eventually. Mikey Cole and Sean Quigley were others who worked like tigers.

Every Meath player toiled tirelessly as they needed to do to complete their campaign in the best possible way - by winning silverware and more importantly secure promotion to 2A. It may have been a real battle at times, not pretty, but they did the business in the end on Sunday.

That fact will give Seoirse Bulfin and his players immense satisfaction this week - and with justification.

SCORERS

Meath - Jack Regan 0-11 nine frees; Eamon O Donnchadha 0-3; Daire Shine 0-2 Sean Geraghty 0-1; Martin Healy 0-1; Stephen Morris 0-1; Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-1.

Donegal - Liam McKinney 0-8; Ciaran Bradley 0-1; Padraig Doherty 0-1; Jack O'Loughlin 0-1; Richie Ryan 0-1; Declan Coulter 0-1; Ruairi Campbell 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Charlie Ennis; Gerard Dwane, Damien Healy, Brendan McKeon; Niall McLarnon, James Toher, Simon Ennis; Sean Geraghty, Martin Healy; Stephen Morris, Jack Regan, Mikey Cole; Sean Quigley, Eamon O Donnchadha, Padraig O'Hanrahan. Subs - Patrick Barnwell for Cole 44 mins, James Kelly for O'Hanrahan 52m, Daire Shine for Healy 60m, Sean Coloe for Quigley 70m, Shane Brennan for McLarnon 71m.

Donegal - Luke White; Ciaran Bradley, Michael Donaghue, Padraig Doherty; Ryan Hilferty, Christopher McDermott, Stephen McBride; Jack O'Loughlin, Brian McIntyre; Sean Ward, Ronan McDermott, Liam McKinney; Daire O Maoileidigh, Richie Ryan, Ruairi Campbell. Subs - Oisin Marley for Ward 33 mins, Stephen Gillespie for Bradley, Declan Coulter for McIntyre both 42m, Danny Cullen for Campbell 52m, Conor O'Grady for Hilferty 70m.

Referee - Colm McDonald (Antrim).