Extra-time heartbreak for young Royals

GERRY REILLY CUP FINAL Dubious late calls frustrate Meath in Millbrook

Meath were very unfortunate not to be crowned Gerry Reilly Cup champions in normal time after some questionable decisions from the official. However, Louth outstayed the Royals in extra-time to claim the 1-20 to 1-16 victory at Millbrook, writes Tom Gannon.

Trevor Giles’ side were limited to one point in the second-half of extra-time as Louth hit the first three points on the spin in the added period to put a gap between the sides and from there they hung on to take the title.

Meath were awarded a penalty late-on but Tomas Dillon’s effort was well saved by net-minder Daithi Holmes.

Cormac Fitzsimons had to come to the rescue of the Royals twice in the first 10 minutes and he denied both Calvin Winters and Cillian Duff goal-scoring opportunities with two fantastic saves. Fitzsimons then struck a brilliant ‘45’ to put Meath ahead by 0-2 to 0-1 after 13 minutes.

Louth hit the next two scores through Brian O’Neill and Finn McEneaney, but frees from Cormac Walsh and Dillon levelled the sides at 0-4 each after 25 minutes.

Meath seized advantage when a well-worked move, which started with a brilliant turnover of possession from John Killoran, was finished off down the other end by Dillon to the Louth net.

With not much time left in the opening half, Alex Keane was given a harsh black card and when the referee Christopher Brady from Monaghan blew the half-time whistle, Meath led 1-4 to 0-5.

Louth were quick out of the blocks after the break and rattled off the first four scores through a Connell Kelly brace, O’Neill and Pauric Maguire.

Meath eventually got off the mark in the second-half in the 45th minute when Killian McGivern split the posts.

The floodgates then opened and in very quick succession, Walsh hit two points either side of a Conn Brennan two-pointer. The Meath defence were then caught lacking when Duff cut in from the left hand-side and easily carved his way through before hitting a strike past Fitzsimons into the Meath net. With 12 minutes remaining the sides were level at 1-9 each.

The closing stages of normal time were tit-for-tat. Milo Stafford made a huge impact off the bench and he hit two of Meath’s last four scores.

Cormac McKenna thought he had won it for the Royals when he kicked Meath two-points clear with only two minutes remaining, but a series of strange calls from the referee during the chaos of what should have been the final exchanges led to Louth opportunities for scores and the Wee County hit two points, courtesy of Kelly and Conor Marron, to level proceedings just before the final whistle.

On one occasion late on Meath were punished for not keeping three players in attack. when Louth had a similar transgression moments later it wasn't spotted by the referee.

Louth also benefited from a wrong lineball call and scored a point that proved crucial in forcing the game to extra-time.

Louth drew blood first in extra time when Kelly edged them ahead before Dillon Kirwan made it 1-15 to 1-13.

Meath responded with a Milo Stafford free before Kelly hit a brilliant two-pointer to widen the gap to three.

Walsh took a quick free and played a lovely one-two with Tomas Proudfoot before tapping over a nice score just before the break, which left Louth with a 1-17 to 1-15 lead.

In the second-half of extra time, Louth hit the ground running and scored the first three points. Tomas Dillon played a lovely ball through to Harris Moffat but his goal effort was saved by Holmes.

Walsh reduced the gap back to four. Moffat intercepted a Louth kickout and was clean through on goal when he struck just wide but was judged to be fouled in the large square and Meath were awarded a penalty. The Royals' last throw of the dice ended in heartbreak as Holmes denied Dillon from the spot.

Louth - Daith Holmes; Finn McEneaney (0-1), Ollie Walsh, Calvin Winters; Jack Ruane, Brian O’Neill (0-2), Matthew Kiernan; Mark Smith, Pauric Maguire (0-2); Donnachda Reidy, Connell Kelly (0-11 four frees, one two-pointer) Cillian Duff (1-0); Joe Lyons, Cillian Downey, Conor Marron (0-1). Subs - Jakub Perkowski, Josh Gahaya, Anthony Traynor, Cillian Downey, Liam McGahon, Charlie Knowles, Ephraim McDonnell, Ben McKeon, Tom Rock, Dylan Kirwan (0-2), Tadgh McDonnell, Aaron O’Donoghue, Tadgh Moroney (0-1).

Meath - Cormac Fitzsimons (Navan O'Mahonys 0-1 ‘45’); Tomas Clarke (Dunshaughlin), Niall Rogan (St Michael's), Liam O’Donoghue (St Colmcille's); Niall Smyth (Skryne), John Killoran (Na Fianna), Conor McTague (Dunshaughlin); Cormac McKenna (Wolfe Tones 0-1), Alex Keane (Dunshaughlin); Conn Brennan (St Ultan's 0-2 one two-point), Darragh Wright (Clann na nGael), Thomas McKeever (Wolfe Tones); Cormac Walsh (Trim 0-7 two frees), Tomas Dillon (Syddan 1-1 one free), Mark Halpin (Oldcastle). Subs - Harris Moffat (Skryne) 0-2) for Wright half-time, Killian McGivern (Kilbride 0-1) for McKeever 36m, Tomas Proudfoot (St Ultan's) for McTague 40m, Milo Stafford (Kilmainhamwood 0-1 free) for Halpin 44m, Caolan Comey (Summerhill) for Dillon 54m; extra-time - Leo Kavanagh (Moynalty) for Smyth, Ryan O’Neill (Simonstown) for Brennan 66m, William Gifford (St Patrick's) for Killoran half-time, Dillon for McKenna 74m, Ben Gilsenan (Clonard), Ryan Monahan (St Peter's), Ben Reilly (Drumconrath), David Akinla (Slane), Oisin Farrelly (Castletown), Dara Naughton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Tom Howley (Dunderry).

Referee - Christopher Brady (Monaghan).