Meath’s Thrilling Comeback
In a rollercoaster second-half in Navan, hosts Meath pulled off a dramatic first win of the Division Two campaign. Trailing by four points with 40 minutes played, Colm O’Rourke’s side staged a remarkable turnaround, scoring 1-6 without reply to clinch victory in the north-eastern derby.
Standout Performances
Eoghan Frayne, Shane Walsh, and Darragh Campion displayed immense character and determination, particularly during Meath’s struggles, pleasing manager O’Rourke as he builds a new-look team. Mathew Costello sealed the comeback with a sensational solo goal in the 70th minute, leaving Meath five points ahead.
Disappointment for Louth
New Louth manager Ger Brennan will be disappointed with the manner of the defeat, as his team went 33 minutes without a score in the second half before a late consolation goal. Captain Sam Mulroy’s late attempt was thwarted by Meath’s resilient defense.
Valuable Win for Meath
The victory is valuable for Tailteann Cup title holders Meath, following their opening round draw with Fermanagh and heavy defeat in Armagh. They will face Kildare next weekend in Navan. Meanwhile, Louth, who beat Cork in Round 2, will aim to return to winning ways against Cavan in Ardee.
First-Half Efforts and Challenges
Louth held a narrow 0-6 to 0-5 lead at halftime, reflecting their efforts in the opening half. Meath, despite six first-half wides, could have been ahead themselves. However, both teams missed crucial goal-scoring opportunities.
Frustration for Meath
Meath faced frustration in their attempts to play with width, as poor pass selection and Louth’s relentless work-rate thwarted their efforts. Despite a late rally, Meath struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities until their impressive second-half comeback.
Turning Point
Costello’s solo goal in the 70th minute proved to be the turning point for Meath, securing their victory despite a late surge from Louth. While Louth’s late goal added drama, it was not enough to overturn Meath’s lead.
Scorers for Meath: Mathew Costello 1-2 (0-2f), Shane Walsh 0-3, Jack O’Connor 0-2, Daithi McGowan 0-2 (0-1m), Eoghan Frayne 0-2.
Scorers for Louth: Ryan Burns 0-4, Sam Mulroy 0-3 ( 0-2f, 0-1m), Tom Jackson 1-0, Ciaran Keenan 0-1, Conor Early 0-1.
Meath: Sean Brennan; Michael Murphy, Adam O’Neill, Donal Keogan; Ciaran Caulfield, Darragh Campion, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Cian McBride; Daithi McGowan, Eoghan Frayne, Jack O’Connor; Shane Walsh, Mathew Costello, Ruairi Kinsella.
Subs: Cathal Hickey for Kinsella h/t, Brian O’Halloran for Murphy 48, Danny Dixon for O’Connor 63, Aaron Lynch for McGowan 63, Adam McDonnell for Campion 70.
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Ciaran Murphy, Anthony Williams, Conall McKeever; Tommy Durnin, Conor Grimes; Paul Mathews, Ciaran Downey, Conor Early; Ciaran Keenan, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns.
Subs: Niall Sharkey for Murphy h/t, Dylan McKeown for Downey 54, Leonard Grey for Williams 63, Wayne Campbell for Early 68, Tom Jackson for Keenan 68.
