Royals rattled by Rossies

Roscommon 1-13

Meath 2-7

Meath’s inaugural campaign in the All-Ireland Masters competition saw them defeated in the Shield final by Roscommon on Saturday in Drumlish.

A talented Roscommon side put the squeeze on in the final quarter and despite a late goal from John L McGee, the Royals came up short.

Keith Reilly got Meath off to a positive start with a nice point. Chances were aplenty in the first quarter but neither side were very clinical. Both teams saw two goal opportunities go abegging and they each hit four wides. After 15 minutes, the Rossies led 0-2 to 0-1.

A lovely move that had some nice link-up play between Meath’s midfielders Keith Reilly and Gary Arkins was polished off when Gordon Weldon set up Neil Darby for a goal. However, in very similar fashion, Roscommon responded almost immediately with a move that finished with Aidan Dooney fisting the ball to the Meath net.

In the second quarter, Niall Mooney got on a lot of ball and was involved in moves that led to points for Arkins and David Russell. Mooney also got on the scoresheet himself but at half-time the sides were deadlocked with 1-4 apiece.

Roscommon seized control after the break and in the third quarter outscored Meath by 0-4 to 0-1. The Royals’ score came from a well-struck Joe Sheridan free from just outside the Rossie’s ‘45’.

Arkins pulled one back for Meath but with 10 minutes left Rosscommon led by three points. The Rossies pulled well clear of the Royals between the 53rd and 57th minute with four points on the spin. A close-range Sheridan free was cancelled out by Roscommon’s Darragh Hussey.

McGee’s goal on the cusp of full-time was too little too late for the Royals and the final whistle ended Meath’s hopes of lifting silverware in their first ever Masters campaign.

Roscommon: Cormac Sheehy; Paul Kelly, David Delaney, Michael McNama; Adrian Murtagh, Cathal Dineen, Sean Purcell (0-1); Niall Connolly (0-1), Ian Kilbride; David Kelly, Ger Heneghan (0-4 frees), Darragh Hussey (0-4); Ronan Cox, Sean Fahy (0-1), Aidan Dooney (1-2). Subs: David Scahill, Richard Dooner, Jason Camey, Aaron Sharkey, Dermot Foley, Garry Connellon, Mark O'Donohoe, Adrian Frayne, Paddy McCormick, Robbie Kelly, Stephen McCormick, Eddie Noone, Ultan Kelly, Senan Kilbride, Damien Tiernan, Niel Cox, Sean Ryan, Seamus Keane, Paul Gilleran, Gerry Leech, David Hussey.

Meath: Willie Arkins; Ray Russell, Brian O’Reilly, Ronan McGuinness; Brendan Heffernan, James Flavin, Neil Darby (1-0); Keith Reilly (0-1), Gary Arkins (0-2 one free); Stevie McManus, Niall Mooney (0-1), Paddy Nugent; Owen McGrath, Joe Sheridan (0-2 one free), Gordon Weldon. Subs: Keith McGuinness, Barry Balfe, Mark Brennan, David Gormley, Keith Hamilton, Matthew Hanley, Brian Lucey, Gordon Manning, Michael McBride, John L McGee (1-0), Bertie McLoughlin, Peadar Byrne, Stephen Reddy, David Rowley, David Russell (0-1).

Referee: Gerry Sheridan (Cavan).