Meath: 0-18
Wexford: 0-13
By Michael Dwyer.
In spite of a wonderful Wexford performance for the opening three quarter’s of the game, the greater economical use of possession in the closing stages by Meath shaded them in Sunday afternoon’s Leinster SFC semi-final at the well-nurtured soil of Croke Park.
After completing the hurling qualifier defeat of Carlow on Saturday, Wexford’s no. 4 Lee Chin was swapped with Robert Tierney before the clash commenced. To open the provincial penultimate pairing, Wexford’s Ciarán Lyng swapped a pair of points with accurate free-taker Michael Newman who’s second came on 9 minutes. But Wexford then began to play at ease, with an overall fluency in their progression of play. A brace of elegant points from Ben Brosnan as well as a superb Adrian Flynn effort invented a three-point Wexford lead on 23 minutes (0-6 to 0-3). However, Meath’s vibrant finish to the half with points from Eamonn Wallace and Michael Newman maintained the game’s tight nature as Wexford led by the minimum at the interval (0-8 to 0-7).
Aidan O’Brien’s men were extremely dexterous on the half’s resumption as points from Ben Brosnan and Brian Malone had the momentum swinging in Wexford’s favour in the 39th minute. However, that drive vanished as Meath set about recuperating their deficit in a ruthless fashion. Five points from the Royals went unanswered and Michael Newman’s pointed free on 48 minutes gave Meath the lead for the first time and that advantage was banked on as the game neared completion. Wexford’s murmur of a reply came when Redmond Barry blasted over a point this was of no consolation as his side’s fouling negligence allowed Michael Newman to assure his side of the spoils with a safe figure of points.
The flowing style of Wexford’s play for the first two thirds had little effect in the end result as the Model county lacked the firepower to overcome an average Meath outfit. The qualifier campaign will be an intriguing one as a clutch of competitive counties fight it out via the backdoor!
MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke (Skryne), Donal Keoghan (Rathkenny), Kevin Reilly (Navan O’Mahony’s capt.), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey), Caomhín King (Dunshaughlin), Seamus Kenny (Simonstown Gaels), Brian Meade (Rathkenny), Conor Gillespie (Summerhill), Peadar Byrne (Ballinlough 0-2), Damien Carroll (Ballinabrackey), Graham Reilly (St. Colmcille’s 0-4), Eamonn Wallace (Ratoath 0-1), Stephen Bray (Navan O’Mahony’s 0-2), Michael Newman (Kilmainham 0-9 frees). SUBS. Ciarán Lenihan (Skryne) for Caoimhín King; Joe Sheridan (Seneschalstown) for Eamonn Wallace; Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle) for Peadar Byrne; Bryan McMahon (Ratoath) for Graham Reilly.
WEXFORD: Anthony Masterson (Castletown), Michael Furlong (St. Abban’s Adamstown), Graeme Molloy (St. James’ Ramsgrange), Robert Tierney (Glynn), Brian Malone (Shelmaliers 0-2), David Murphy (St. Mary’s Rosslare), Adrian Flynn (Gusserane-O’Rahilly’s 0-1), Daithí Waters (St. Martin’s), Rory Quinlivan (Parnell’s, Dublin), James Holmes (Castletown), Ben Brosnan (Bannow-Ballymitty 0-3 2 frees), Aindreas Doyle (Parnell’s, Dublin), James Holmes (Castletown), Ciarán Lyng (St. Martin’s 0-5 3 frees), Redmond Barry (St. Anne’s Rathangan 0-1), PJ Banville (Horeswood 0-1). SUBS. Paddy Byrne (Kilmore) for Shane Roche; James Holmes (Castletown) for Aindreas Doyle; Kevin Gore (Sarsfields) for PJ Banville; Conor Carty (Castletown) for Rory Quinlivan; Kevin O’Grady (St James’ Ramsgrange) for Ben Brosnan.
REFEREE: Maurice Deegan (Laois).