Dark day for Meath as they are exiled from top table

Like a convict back in the day sent to Van Diemen's Land or a Russian dissident exiled to darkest, coldest Siberia, Meath now find themselves where they had desperately hoped to avoid going - into the Tailteann Cup.

Today's 0-10 to 1-11 defeat to Offaly in the Leinster SFC at O'Connor Park, Tullamore confirmed that - and they can have few complaints on a dark day for football in the Royal County.

After a dismal opening half - surely one of the worst 35 minutes put together by any Meath team in recent memory - Colm O'Rourke's side found themselves with too steep a mountain to climb in the second-half when the visitors upped their game considerably but still fell short.

There's an old saying that goes: A good beginning is half the work.

Meath gave themselves double the work with that slow-burning, under-performing opening 35 minutes in which they barely raised a gallop. They couldn't muster their opening point until the 22nd minute when Mathew Costello swept the ball between the posts but by then they had already conceded 1-4 and were chasing the game.

The Meath supporters in the crowd of just over 5,000 must have left O'Connor Park bemused, deeply disappointed and perturbed by the result but particularly what they had witnessed in that forgettable opening half display which ended with Offaly ahead, 1-8 to 0-2.

The goal arrived on 21 minutes with Offaly putting together a move that sliced through the Meath cover with Cian Farrell passing to Rory Egan who had plenty of time and space before arrowing the ball low past Harry Hogan.

Before Costello struck with his point, the possibility of Meath not even registering a score in the opening half looked a distinct prospect. Instead of asserting themselves, as might be expected against a team who in the NFL played a division below them, Meath looked nervous and tentative in that opening half, repeatedly giving the ball away, meekly relinquishing possession and coughing up frees from which Offaly were invariably able to make hay.

Players such as Nigel Dunne, Ruairi McNamee and Dylan Hyland caused Meath untold problems and they created and took their chances, passing the ball with purpose, staying composed under pressure.

Apart from Costello, Donal Lenihan was the only other Meath scorer in that first moiety when he superbly finished a fine move. That was one of the few highlights for Meath before referee Seamus Mulhare mercifully brought the half to a conclusion.

Those faithful, long-suffering Meath supporters at least had something to cheer in the second-half as their team pushed up on Offaly's kick-outs, sought to break the first tackle with greater determination and at least played with more passion.

Meath made a three changes at the interval and they dominated the second-half but they were undone by many of the failings they demonstrated in the opening half. Their cause continued to be undermined turnovers and shots that fell short of the posts allowing Offaly the opportunity to clear.

Make no mistake this was a dark day for Meath football with the team's lack of confidence in front of the posts another feature of their display. In all the Royals hit 12 wides, something they will be rightfully disappointed with compared to eight from Offaly.

Those looking to take some comfort from Meath's performance can, with justification, point to the way the team stroked the flames in the second-half reducing the deficit to four points with 70 minutes played but they were unable to find a path to salvation in the six minutes of injury time played.

With four debutants who started Meath may have, understandably, lacked the experienced needed to stay composed in the closing minutes when cool heads were most needed.

A big blow to Meath's hopes was the absence from the start of Ronan Jones because of a hamstring problem. One of the most consistent performers in the league his presence around midfield was badly missed - and when he came on after 54 minutes he added another dimension to Meath's display. The wonder was why he didn't come on sooner.

Costello finished up as Meath's main marksman with three points, two from play. Jones scored two fines scores when he did come on and these added to to points from the impressive Jason Scully, Cillian O'Sullivan and Jack O'Connor ensured at least a tense finish and something for those Meath supporters to cheer.

Meath badly needed a goal but they rarely looked like getting one. They did create one or two half-chances. Shortly before the end they put together a fine move with Jones floating the ball into the Offaly goalmouth. Jordan Morris went for it but was beaten to it by Offaly goalkeeper Ian Duffy.

Just before the end a comedy of errors in the Offaly defence resulted in Padraic Harnan almost through on goals but he fumbled the greasy ball and as soon as it came the chance was gone.

Driven on by impressive debutant Sean Coffey, Harnan, Scully and Jones, all of whom did well, Meath can at least claim that they lost this game with some honour because they never stopped working and striving to do the right thing. They were undone time and again by the wrong options, the unforced errors, the turnovers, the shots that fell short, Offaly's, measured, controlled efficiency.

It was a lethal combination of factors that ensures it is the Royals who go where they didn't want to go - into the Tailteann Cup. At least there they might find some kind of redemption. Some consolation.

SCORERS

Offaly - Rory Egan 1-1; Nigel Dunne 0-4 one free, one '45'; David Hyland 0-2 one free; Ruairi McNamee 0-2; Anton Sullivan 0-1; Bernard Allen 0-1.

Meath - Matthew Costello 0-3 two frees; Ronan Jones 0-2; Jason Scully 0-2; Jack O'Connor 0-1; Donal Lenihan 0-1; Cillian O'Sullivan 0-1.

TEAMS

Offaly - Ian Duffy; Lee Pearson, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey; Rory Egan, Peter Cunningham, Ciaran Donnelly; Jack McEvoy, Conor McNamee; Cian Farrell, Ruairi McNamee, Anton Sullivan; Dylan Hyland, Nigel Dunne, Jame Evans. Subs - Cian Donohoe for Egan half-time, Bernard Allen for Farrell 48 mins, Joe Maher for Evans 56m, Shane Tierney for Allen, Bill Carroll for C McNamee both 59m.

Meath - Harry Hogan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Michael Flood; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Keith Curtis, Jack Flynn; Daithi McGowan, Mathew Costello, Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris, Cillian O'Sullivan, Donal Lenihan. Subs - Jack O'Connor for Hickey, Jason Scully for McGowan, Harry O'Higgins for Flood all at half-time, Ronan Jones for Lenihan 54m, Diarmuid Moriarty for Curtis 58m.

Referee - Seamus Mulhare (Laois).