Royal response secures crucial win in Derry

14-man Meath turn on the style

Sometimes you don't get the results your performances deserve, last Sunday in London was case in point for the Meath hurlers, but today in Owenbeg they dug deep and showed outstanding character and determination to get their Christy Ring Cup campaign back on track with a sensational 1-21 to 1-19 victory over Derry in Owenbeg.

Winning the game was crucial following the loss in London, but it was the manner of the victory that impressed as Meath lost James Toher to a 28th minute straight red card following an off-the-ball incident with Richie Mullan, yet still managed to claim the deserved victory.

Leading by 0-10 to 0-8 after a slow start which left them three points adrift inside three minutes Meath looked in trouble when they lost Toher who was dominating as the sweeper. However, they never panicked and lead by four at the break.

Derry looked to turn the screw after the restart and after a soft free and an equally generous penalty the hosts levelled it up within three minutes of the restart.

By the 40th minute Meath were behind again and with a numerical disadvantage they could have been forgiven for dropping their heads.

Such a response never entered their heads. Brendan McKeon was immense beyond his stature at the heart of the Meath rearguard. Martin Healy excelled filling in for Toher, while Eamon O Donnchadha and Nicky Potterton caused mayhem up top.

Meath had impressive performers all over the field. Worryingly the free-taking misfired for both Jack Regan and Podge O'Hanrahan, but both men were excellent from play.

Simon Ennis and Niall McLarnon worked their socks off for the cause, while the introduction of the fresh legs of Sean Geraghty and Daire Shine made a telling impact as Derry went for broke when the game was in the melting pot in the closing stages.

While there was plenty of excellent, enterprising and exciting hurling on show, this win was founded on pure hard work and determination and not one Meath player did the jersey a disservice.

Any nerves or lack of confidence that might had lingered from the London loss were wiped away. Charlie Ennis was assured and composed. Under the high ball Meath coped brilliantly with everything that dropped on top of them. The hassling and harrying in midfield was relentless, while the movement and skills up top caused Derry problems.

Derry are a good side. They contributed immensely to an excellent game, but when it came to who wanted it more, Meath looked the more hungry and capable outfit.

That certainly didn't look to be the case early on Eamon Conway opened the scoring for the hosts and then Cormac O'Doherty added two frees to establish a 0-3 to 0-0 cushion.

It took Potterton almost seven minutes to get Meath moving on the scoreboard and after O'Doherty restored Derry's three-point cushion Meath upped the tempo and settled into their style with three successive points from Regan (one free) and one each from O'Hanrahan and Simon Ennis boosting the Royals to a 0-6 to 0-4 first quarter lead.

Derry responded with scores from O'Doherty (free), Paddy Kelly and Meehaul McGrath before Potterton levelled it up for the third time in the 21st minute, 0-7 each.

John Mullan edged Derry ahead again, but then Meath assumed control again with O Donnchadha pointing twice. However after each of those scores Meath missed chances to pull further clear from wayward frees.

Regan showed his class with an outstanding point to make it 0-10 to 0-8, but then Toher saw red when referee Brian Keon spotted a late challenge after Derry cleared their lines and the Trim man was dismissed.

Sean Quigley responded immediately with a point, and two outstanding scores from O Donnchadha extended Meath's lead to 0-13 to 0-8.

Segdae Melaugh and Mullan replied for Derry, but O'Hanrahan ensured a 0-14 to 0-10 interval lead for Meath with the last puck of the half.

A harsh call on Shane Brennan saw referee award Derry a penalty 50 seconds after the restart and O'Doherty made no mistake. A minute later he landed a free and all of a sudden Derry were level 1-11 to 0-14.

O'Hanrahan responded with a free to restore Meath's lead, but when James Friel (two) and Sean Kelly landed scores Derry looked in control, 1-14 to 0-15, with 28 minutes still remaining and Meath down to 14 men.

James Kelly and Regan landed scores from play either side of a missed free from O'Hanrahan as Meath got back on level terms, but Darragh McGilligan and Conway responded for Derry to make it 1-16 to 0-17.

However, Derry were starting to visibly tire as Meath brought in the fresh legs.

Geraghty and Shine made immediate impacts with O'Hanrahan (two frees) capitalising to level it up again, 0-19 to 1-16 at the three-quarters stage.

Then came Potterton's moment of genius. He won a ball he had no right to win, turned his man inside out before racing through on goal from an angle and unleashing a powerful drive to the roof of the net.

O'Hanrahan and Shine traded scores with McGilligan and O'Doherty (free) as Meath maintained their three-point cushion into injury-time.

With four minutes of added time announced Derry started going for goal, but Meath's defence was resolute and with O'Doherty dropping his late '65' just over the bar the host's chance was gone as Meath held on to claim a deserved victory.

SCORERS

Meath - Podge O'Hanrahan 0-6 four frees; Jack Regan 0-5 one frees; Nicky Potterton 1-2; Eamonn O Donnchadha 0-4; Simon Ennis 0-1; Sean Quigley 0-1; James Kelly 0-1; Daire Shine 0-1.

Derry - Cormac O'Doherty 1-7 1-0 penalty, six frees, one '65'; Eamon Conway 0-2; John Mullan 0-2; James Friel 0-2; Darragh McGilligan 0-2; Paddy Kelly 0-1; Meehaul McGrath 0-1; Segdae Melaugh 0-1; Sean Kelly 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Charlie Ennis; Mickey Burke, Shane Brennan, Brendan McKeon; Niall McLarnon, James Toher, Simon Ennis; Pa Ryan, Martin Healy; Padraig O'Hanrahan, Jack Regan, James Kelly; Sean Quigley, Eamon Og O Donnchadha, Nicky Potterton. Subs - Sean Geraghty for Quigley 44 mins, Daire Shine for Ryan 50m, Mikey Cole for J Kelly 68m, MArk O'Sullivan for Healy 71m.

Derry - Oisin O'Doherty; Sean Francis Quinn, Mark Craig, Daire Kelly; Paddy Kelly, Richie Mullan, Meehaul McGrath; Paul Cleary, James Friel; Sewgdae Malaugh, Eamon Conway, Darragh McGilligan; Cormac O'Doherty, John Mullan, Reese McSorley. Subs - Callum O'Kane for P Kelly 32 mins, Sean Kelly for McSorley half-time, Cormac Gough for Melaufgh 57m, Padhraig McNeilis for D Kelly 70m.

Referee - Brian Keon.

Full match report, reaction from manager Seoirse Bulfin and more photos from today's game exclusively in Tuesday's Meath Chronicle