Meath players stay Faithful to the cause until the very end

LEINSTER MHC Royal County manager 'proud' of battling display

Offaly...1-11

Meath...1-8

Defeat doesn't always signify a bad day at the office. Take Meath's performance against Offaly in today's Leinster MHC Tier 2 clash at Ashbourne.

The Faithful County arrived at the venue as strong favourites to win the game. Not only win it but do so with a lorryload of points to spare - and at the interval it looked like they might do just that.

The scoreboard read: Meath 1-6 to Offay's 1-3 with James Cully firing home a fantastic goal for the Royals soon after Killian Wayne did the same for Offaly.

What that tally didn't indicate was that the home side had a very strong wind behind and the slope also. It didn't augur well for them going out for the second stanza but with the odds stacked high against them they dig in, showed real character and made a right game of it.

It was only in the final six minutes that the visitors stepped on the gas and pulled a way and with only three points between the teams as this full-on, highly entertaining game rolled into injury time, Offaly could never relax.

The possibility of Meath snatching a late, match-saving goal was a spectre Offaly just couldn't totally dismiss. The fact Meath were still in it at the death said a lot.

The margin of defeat added to the gutsy, spirted performance of the team was a joy to manager Martin Lynch who is connected to the Drumree club.

"I think it's all about attitude and application and in Meath - and I have spoken to Seoirse Bulfin about this - I think we have the players with the ability to do well. More belief we can take on the big boys, that's really what we are looking for and I'm really proud of our lads today."

The Meath manager says a huge amount of effort has gone into preparing the team. A huge amount of resources too as he pointed out there was a large backroom team in place including "S &C coach, four on-field coaches, athletics coach, logistics, admin, nutrition." It's what's needed these days to give a team a chance.

Meath's character was on display early on when they conceded the opening two points but they replied to put themselves right back in the frame and go in at the break ahead. Wind-assisted Offaly didn't haul themselves level until the 52nd minute when the teams stood at 1-8 apiece.

From there they pushed on to win with three late unanswered scores from Odhran Fletcher (two) and James Hennessy.

Cully's goal arrived on 21 minutes and it was superbly taken after the Kildalkey player took a pass from Rian Porter before turning and firing home. Luke Ennis also make a big contribution with five points, all from frees, including two monster efforts in the second-half against the elements and from awkward angles. Porter and Evan Curley also swept over fine scores from play in the opening half.

The character of Meath's defence really came to the fore in that second-half with players such as David Regan, Sean Ward, Lennan McCormack and others getting in vital blocks or making surging runs. Meath's workrate was unremitting while they also imposed themselves more physically in that second-half something, they didn't always do in the opening 20 minutes of so.

Still, this was massive test for the young Royals and they stood up to it manfully. They will learn greatly too from the experience with games against Wicklow, Westmeath and Antrim to come. Today's display augurs well for those challenges.

SCORERS

Offaly - Odhran Fletcher 0-6 four frees; James Hennessy 0-2; Andrew Hogan 0-1; James Sampson 0-1; James O'Sullivan 0-1.

Meath - James Cully 1-1; Luke Ennis 0-5 frees; Rian Porter 0-1; Evan Curley 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Sean Cregan (Dunboyne); James Lonergan (Dunboyne), Sean Ward (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Lennan McCormack (Drumree); Adam O'Donoghue (Trim), David Regan (Kiltale), Daithi Grehan (Rathmolyon); Lorcan McDermott (O'Mahonys), Michael Carr (Kildalkey); Cormac Swan (Kilmessan), Dean Walsh (O'Mahonys), Rian Porter (O'Mahonys); Luke Ennis (Clann na nGael), James Cully (Kildalkey), Evan Curley (Drumree). Subs - Edward Dunne (Kildalkey) for O'Donoghue 24m, Sean McKeown for Swan half-time, JJ McManus (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Carr 39m, Shane Callaghan (Gaeil Colmcille) for Lonergan 56m, Donal Dochairtaigh (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Walsh 59m. Other panel members - Darragh Callanan (Dunboyne), Alex Hutchinson (St Patrick's), Thomas Elliott (St Colmcille's), Daithi Wade (O'Mahonys),

Offaly - Matt Watkins; Conor Berry, Joey Loughney, Cian Kinnerney; Oisin Carroll, Andrew Hogan, Michael Dooley; Luke Bracken, Brian Guinan; James Sampson, James O'Sullivan, Killian Wynne; Odhran Fletcher, Conor Egan, James Hennessy. Subs - Eamon Maher for Fletcher 30m, Noel Standish for Wynne 54m, Morgan Feenane for Berry 56m.

Referee - Dean Alford (Dublin).