Wayward Meath left to rue missed chance

Louth ..............................0-2-10 (14)

Meath............................... 2-1-5 (13)

SEAN WALL

Meath hopes of a winning start in the Leinster MFC literally fell wide of the mark against arch rivals Louth at Fr McManus Park, Skryne on Thursday evening.

The conditions were difficult but Meath will feel that this was a game they left behind as they tallied 13 wides for the hour.

Three of those wides arrived in the closing minutes as Meath fought frantically to force an equaliser and a share of the spoils.

Those squandered opportunities proved costly at the final whistle but Louth also missed chances as well, an indication of the tricky underfoot conditions and a ball that must have felt like a bar of soap.

It ensured that free flowing football was at a premium throughout.

Despite a counter attraction at the Fortuna Arena, Prague and the miserable weather there was a good sized attendance for what proved a tense and closely fought encounter.

A brilliantly struck two-pointer from Pauric Maguire on 55 minutes was what separated the sides’ at the finish and the John Mitchels player’s sweetly struck effort from the right wing was worthy of winning any match.

It edged Louth back in front and they held out as Meath’s wayward finishing continued to haunt them.

It was Maguire’s second two-pointer, he scored a similar one in the opening half and it was enough to take the Wee County to victory.

Overall Louth deserved their win as they managed the game better even though their talisman and last year’s top scorer in the championship Connell Kelly endured mixed fortunes both from play and placed balls.

The decision to opt for a close range free instead of attempting a two-pointer after Meath had breached the three up rule proved the correct decision as Kelly converted the effort to leave his side two points clear near the end of the third quarter. And in a game of tight margins that proved a shrewd move.

Louth led by three points at one stage in the third quarter and that was the widest margin between the teams at any stage of proceedings.

Rian McDonnell opened the scoring for Louth with captain Harry McGuirk replying for the hosts. The sides’ swapped points twice after that with Conor Marron and Connell Kelly (free) on target for the Wee County and Cormac Walsh and Tomás Dillon replying for Meath.

Both sides’ squandered chances to go ahead before Maguire’s two-pointer restored Louth’s lead on 25 minutes. A foul on Milo Stafford gave Cormac Walsh the opportunity of a two-pointer and the Trim man duly replied to tie up the game at 0–5 apiece.

However Louth put on a spurt on the approach to half-time and points from St Fechin’s duo Cillian Duff and Brian O’Neill left the visitors 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

Meath needed a positive start to the second half and they got it within a minute of the restart with a goal from Walsh who managed to squeeze the ball over the line despite the best efforts of 'keeper Aaron O’Donoghue.

That left Trevor Giles’ charges ahead for the first time but they were unable to build on that score and instead it was Louth who upped the tempo with successive points from Joe Lynch, sub Mark Smith, Kelly (free) and Cillian Duff.

Louth were in control at that stage but they were hauled back when Walsh got behind their cover from a Niall Rogan delivery and produced a great finish low to the net.

A pointed free from Milo Stafford had Meath ahead but Maguire levelled once more from a free with eight minutes remaining.

Daire Loughran edged Meath back in front before Maguire struck for what proved the winning score with that brilliant two-pointer.

Despite the loss Meath can take plenty of positives ahead of the round two clash at home to Kildare.

The elusive Cormac Walsh was the star for Meath and there were also worthwhile contributions from Ben Browne, Tomás Clarke, Liam O’Donoghue, Harry McGuirk and Tomás Proudfoot.

Louth - Aaron O’Donoghue; Matthew Kierans, Jack Ruane), Oliver Walsh; Finn McEneaney, Calvin Winters, Conor Marron (0-1); Tadhg McDonnell, Ronan Duggan; Pauric Maguire (0-5 two two-pointers, one free), Connell Kelly (0-2 frees), Joe Lynch (0-1); Brian O’Neill (0-1), Cillian Duff (0-2), Rian McDonnell (0-1). Subs - Mark Smith (0-1) for Duggan half-time, Cillian McDonnel for R McDonnell 53m, Anthony Traynor for McEneaney 56m, Tadhg Rooney for Duff 59m.

Meath - Cormac Fitzsimons (O’Mahonys); Ben Browne (Simonstown), Tomás Clarke (Dunshaughlin), Niall Rogan (St Michael’s); Liam O’Donoghue (St Colmcille’s), Harry McGuirk (O’Mahonys 0-1), Niall Smyth (Skryne); Alex Keane (Dunshaughlin), Tomás Proudfoot (St Ultan’s); Cormac McKenna (Wolfe Tones), Tomás Dillon (Syddan 0-1), Conn Brennan (St Ultan’s); Cormac Walsh (Trim 2-3 one two-point free), Milo Stafford (Kilmainhamwood 0-1 free), Daire Loughran (Cortown 0-1). Subs - Jake Loughran (Syddan) for Keane 44m, Harry Keating (Cortown) for McGuirk 58m, Caolan Comey (Summerhill) for Dillon 59m.

Referee - Seamus Farrelly (Dublin).