Meath close out campaign with loss in Donegal

As exercises in experimentation go Meath can certainly learn plenty in this 1-10 to 1-18 NFL Div 2 loss to Donegal in Ballybofey tonight.

With their position in NFL Div 2 secure and no threat to their place in the summer's All-Ireland series Meath manager Colm O'Rourke took tonight's contest to give rest to some players, while offering others their opportunity.

In contrast Donegal opted to field a strong team with their NFL Div 2 final against Armagh next Sunday and their trip to Derry in the Ulster SFC just a month away.

That extra strength, experience and ability proved decisive as Donegal turned the screw in the closing 15 minutes of the opening half to turn a 0-1 to 1-0 deficit into a 0-10 to 1-3 lead.

They continued to pull clear after the break as they held a game and gallant Meath side at arm's length.

Meath had their positives. Nine different scorers, 1-9 from play and some excellent passages of both attacking play and defensive fortitude.

However, when Donegal upped the tempo, they showed a greater excellence of execution and ability to turn defence into potent attack.

From the off it looked as if Meath were firing. A sublime move involving Donal Keogan, Ruairi Kinsella and James Conlon set up Cathal Hickey for a brilliantly worked goal inside 25 seconds.

Then a game of tit-for-tat broke out as both sides set-up encampments inside their respective 45s and made scoring difficult.

Shane O'Donnell opened Donegal's account in the 13th minute and seconds later Meath could, and probably should, have had their second goal as Shane Walsh picked pout Conlon with a brilliant pass, but he was denied by Shaun Patton.

Another 11 minutes passed before Donegal found their range again and when they did, they did so with ruthless efficiency.

Oisin Gallen got the ball rolling and another three points in 90 seconds from Jamie Brennan, Aaron Doherty and Gallen made it 0-5 to 1-0 to the hosts.

Conlon ended Meath's 28-minute barren spell, but Donegal responded with scores from O'Donnell and Gallen to make it 0-7 to 1-1.

Adam McDonnell's late tackle on Gallen as he fisted over earned the Summerhill man a black card, but even with him in the bin it was Meath who struck next with Keith Curtis finding his range.

However in the couple of minutes injury-time Donegal hit three of the next four points as Hugh McFadden, Jeaic MacCeallbhui and Ryan McHugh all pointed before Walsh replied for Meath to make it 1-3 to 0-10 at the break.

Ruairi Kinsella pulled one back 90 seconds after the restart, but even with McDonnell back on the field Donegal picked off scores at will with McHugh and Aaron Doherty making it 0-12 to 1-4.

Ronan Jones replied with a superb score, but then Donegal made the game safe with Thompson landing a point before Jamie Brennan bagged a fine goal to make it 1-13 to 1-5 at the three-quarters stage.

Both sides emptied their benches for the remainder and traded scores as the result was beyond doubt.

After Jack O'Connor pointed for Meath Donegal responded with the first scores of the game from free with Thompson converting and Gallen making it 1-15 to 1-6.

Meath did hit three of the next four points with Conlon, Keogan and Curtis landing points while Niall O'Donnell responded for Donegal.

Caolan McGonagle ended the game in the sin-bin, but it had no bearing on the outcome as after Aaron Lynch converted Meath's only score from a free Donegal closed the scoring with points from Thompson (free) and Luke McGlynn to wrap up the win.

SCORERS

Donegal - Oisin Gallen 0-4; Jamie Brennan 1-1; Ciaran Thompson 0-3 two frees; Shane O'Donnell 0-2; Ryan McHugh 0-2; Aaron Doherty 0-2; Hugh McFadden 0-1; Jeaic MacCeallbhui 0-1; Niall O'Donnell 0-1; Luke McGlynn 0-1.

Meath - Cathal Hickey 1-0; James Conlon 0-2; Keith Curtis 0-2; Shane Walsh 0-1; Ruairi Kinsella 0-1; Ronan Jones 0-1; Jack O'Connor 0-1; Donal Keogan 0-1; Aaron Lynch 0-1 free.

TEAMS

Donegal - Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Stephen McMenamin, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden, Aaron Doherty; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Jamie Brennan; Paddy McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Daire O Baoill. Subs - Jeaic MacCeallbhui for McBrearty 19m, Niall O'Donnell for O Baoill half-time, Ciaran McColgan for McHugh 44m, John Ross Molloy for McMenamin, Luke McGlynn for McFadden both 54m.

Meath - Billy Hogan; Harry O'Higgins, Adam O'Neill, Brian O'Halloran; Adam McDonnell, Donal Keogan, Ross Ryan; Ronan Jones, Cian McBride; Diarmuid Moriarty, Ruairi Kinsella, Cathal Hickey; Shane Walsh, James Conlon, Keith Curtis. Subs - Jack O'Connor for Moriarty 46m, Danny Dixon for McBride 52m, Aaron Lynch for Walsh 55m, Michael Murphy for O'Higgins 58m, Ciaran Caulfield for McDonnell 61m.

Referee - Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).