Late surge can't save Meath's All-Ireland ambitions

Lilywhites claim Paul McGirr Cup

Kildare...2-12

Meath...1-12

The term 'grandstand' is something of an old cliche in sport but as relevant a term now as it was way back in the day - if not even more so.

It's a term that could certainly be applied to many Gaelic football games these days. The new rules have meant that teams who might find themselves well behind in a game still have a hope of fashioning a late comeback, especially if they can land a few two pointers.

We have seen time and again, in this new era for the old game, how teams build up big leads only to be hauled back, setting up close, drama-filled, conclusions.

We witnessed it again in this All-Ireland Tier 2 MFC final at Tullamore on Saturday. Meath trailed 0-3 to 2-7, at the interval. However, when the clock showed 61 minutes played, they were behind by only two points, 1-12 to 2-11.

The old grandstand conclusion was very much in full flow, the whole process, greatly assisted by three two pointers landed by Charlie Gallagher including one astonishing effort from over 50 metres out.

The downside of the evening for the young Royals was that they were unable to close out the deal. Instead it was the more composed Kildare side who signed off on the victory when their speedy corner-forward Pauric Carty landed the last score of the evening.

When the final whistle sounded with the kick-out the Meath players slumped to the ground - and little wonder.

Getting to an All-Ireland final, no matter what the grade, no matter what level, is a big deal for any player (or at least should be) so ending up on the losing side is not an easy dose of medicine to have to swallow. We would hope that all the players involved on Saturday will get the opportunity to play in other All-Ireland finals but the reality can be cruelly different.

The harsh truth for the boys in green and gold on this occasion is they they didn't play well enough to return home with the handsome trophy. They were seriously discommoded in the opening half, misdirecting passes meant for colleagues, allowing a serious of turnovers to stymie attacks, unable to take full advantage of the few chances they did fashion.

The did muster those three first-half points from Adam McEvoy, Sean Smith and Will Byrne but the latter was the only Meath player to score from play. That said a lot.

Meath's cause was also undermined in the way Kildare's Calum Keaveny was allowed, just before the interval, to cut in from the wing and fire home his, and his team's, second goal of the half. It was all too easy. Keaveny's first goal was scored after just three minutes and again it could have been prevented. He, along with Hugh Martin, tormented the Meath defence throughout.

Sure Meath were much more structured and enterprising in the second-half helped greatly by the wind, but they still were unable to overtake their opponents who held onto the ball well and, most importantly, defended stoutly.

Gallagher, the young master of the two pointers, raised three orange flags in the second-half to greatly boost Meath's cause. Two of those two pointers came from converted frees, in the 57th and 61st minutes, including that monster effort that deservedly provoked a louder round of applause than might otherwise have been the case, from supporters in the stand.

His other two pointer was landed on 49 minutes and arrived after Meath put together a lengthy sequence of passes with Declan Byrne, Eoghan McBrearty and Luke Casey also involved in the move.

The Meath goal was scored on 32 minutes and came about when a Kildare attack broke down. Meath with rapid-fire efficiency, moved the ball downfield. The moved ended with Stephen Cahill cleverly passing to Sean Smyth who palmed the ball to the net.

Smyth's strike, Gallagher's two pointers, added to other second-half scores from Cahill and CJ Lynch meant Meath were only those two points behind early in injury time.

They just couldn't push on - and their chance of an All-Ireland medal was gone.

Meath - Charlie Finnegan; Charlie O'Connor, Conall O'Sullivan, Glen Callaghan; Lewis Ryan, Eoghan McBrearty, Niall Lawless; Declan Byrne, Charlie Gallagher (0-7 one two pointer, two two pointers from frees); Will Byrne (0-1), Cillian Murphy, Sean Delaney; Adam McEvoy (0-1 free), Sean Smyth (1-1 free), Stephen Cahill (0-1). Subs - CJ Lynch (0-1) for McEvoy 32m, Luke Casey for Ryan 39m, Jeff Foley for Delaney 48m, Robert Johnson for Byrne 53m, Nathan Reilly for Smyth 58m.

Kildare - Jamie Wall; Dan Sargent, Niall McAndrew, Senan Gallagher; Charles Cullen, Aidan Maddock, Sean Gleeson; Calum Keaveny (2-3), Ollie Deller (0-1); Nathan Dunne, Hugh Martin (0-5 one two pointer), Mark Travers; Pauric Carty (0-2), Rory Thompson (0-1), Charlie Doran. Sub - Cillian Long for Dunne 56m.

Referee- Chris Maguire (Clare).

* Before the start of Saturday's game there was minute's silence to remember Donnacha Jan De Bruyn from the Duleek/Bellewstown club who has sadly passed away.