Published: Wednesday, 10th February, 2010 4:55pm

Meath open campaign with a win

Meath 2-8, Armagh 0-13

Ollie Lewis in action for Meath supported by Anthony Moyles during the closing stages of Saturday night's NFL Div 2 game against Armagh at Pairc Tailteann.

Winning games when not playing well is the mark of champions and last Saturday night at Pairc Tailteann, Meath failed to hit top gear, but still managed to open their NFL Div 2 campaign with a narrow victory over a dogged Armagh side.

It would be harsh to be over-critical of Meath as they worked extremely hard and produced a committed and spirited display that would have been enough to wear down a less determined and robust side than Armagh. However, there were plenty of causes for concern for manager Eamonn O'Brien and his management team.

There were long periods of play when Meath failed to score. They went six minutes and then 17 minutes without a score during a first-half when they enjoyed the majority of the possession. In the second period, after Jamie Queeney had netted inside 18 seconds of the restart, they went almost 25 minutes before finding the target again.

During those barren spells Armagh clawed their way back into a game that they should have been long gone out of. Cian Ward, Queeney and David Bray all missed from frees and there were also a number of poor wides from decent positions in open play.

Armagh were allowed move the ball too easily from defence and that invited pressure onto the Meath rearguard, which did very well to prevent Armagh from pulling clear when they were in the ascendancy for the majority of the second-half.

Such disappointing play didn't look likely in the early stages as the Meath full-forward line of Cian Ward, Queeney and David Bray dragged the Armagh defence all over Pairc Tailteann. The movement up front was superb and the distribution from Mark Ward and Cormac McGuinness was top drawer.

Mark Ward had his finest game for some time for Meath as he fielded well at midfield and picked out some brilliant passes. However, after Meath had started well with Stephen Bray's tap-in goal after three minutes and first-quarter points from David Bray, Graham Reilly, Chris O'Connor and Queeney they suddenly lost their way.

Armagh swarmed like only Armagh can and they dominated possession for the majority of the remainder of the game and that left Meath hanging on grimly at the end with a foolish foul off-the-ball on Anthony Moyles in the 71st minute allowing David Bray tap over the insurance point.

O'Brien made nine changes from the team that lost to DCU in the O'Byrne Cup semi-final, while only six of the team that defeated Dublin in the O'Byrne Cup retained their starting place for the league opener. Saturday's game was a first start for Mickey Burke and O'Connor and the lack of game time together showed with much of the play after the first quarter very scrappy.

However, sport is all about the result and less about the performance. Meath will be delighted to get the league off to a winning start and they can look forward to the rest of the campaign knowing they are capable of much better.

More play like the attacking threat of the first 20 minutes and the superb defensive display of the last 20 minutes that restricted a rampant Armagh side to just one point deep into injury-time is what Meath will seek for the future.

A good start is half the battle and Meath enjoyed great openings to both the first and second-halves.

David Bray looked to have lost a scoring opportunity when he flashed a centre across the face of the goals after three minutes, but Armagh custodian Paul Hearty failed to deal with the ball and allowed Stephen Bray open Meath's account with a simple finish at the back post.

Ryan Henderson responded on the counter-attack, but Meath were menacing in the opening stages as David Bray fisted over and Reilly pointed to stretch the advantage to 1-2 to 0-1. Aaron Kernan punished James Macken for a bookable foul on Ciaran McKeever, but again Meath were on top with O'Connor and Queeney making it 1-4 to 0-2.

Then Meath lost their way. Steven McDonnell (two) and Charlie Vernon closed the deficit to two points before Reilly's snap shot was well saved by Hearty. Stephen Bray settled Meath with a fisted score, but an error by Burke allowed McDonnell a simple tap over before Cian Ward posted a 40-metre free to give Meath a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.

The second-half got off to a great start when Mark Ward's excellently delivered free was well gathered by Queeney who turned sharply before finishing beyond Hearty after just 18 seconds. However, instead of building on that great start Meath were pushed back.

Points from McDonnell (three), Henderson, Finian Moriarity and Joe Feeney brought Armagh level, 0-12 to 2-6, with 17 minutes remaining, but then Meath found their defensive sharpness with Seamus Kenny helping significantly to steady the ship.

David Bray edged Meath ahead from a free with their first score in 25 minutes, then the insurance score came from David Bray when Moyles was fouled as Mark Ward's long punt forward was sailing wide. Armagh needed a goal and there were a few nervy moments, but the Meath defence coped brilliantly.

Vernon tapped over to leave the minimum between the sides and that left Paddy O'Rourke with the simple task of finding row Z in the stand from the kick-out to prompt the referee's final whistle and spark Meath celebrations.

Meath - P O'Rourke; N McKeigue, J Macken, E Harrington; M Burke, C McGuinness, G Reilly (0-1); N Crawford, M Ward; C O'Connor (0-1), S Bray (1-1), P Byrne; D Bray (0-3, two frees), J Queeney (1-1), C Ward (0-1 free). Subs - S Kenny for Macken 31 mins, O Lewis for Byrne 49m, A Moyles for C Ward 57m, B Sheridan for S Bray 70m.

Armagh - P Hearty; A Mallon, B Donaghy, P Duffy; A Kernan (0-1 free), C McKeever, F Moriarity (0-1); J Lavery, K Toner; J Feeney (0-1), C Vernon (0-2), M Mackin; R Henderson (0-2), G Swift, S McDonnell (0-6, three frees). Subs - P Kernan for Swift 46 mins, T Kernan for Henderson 53m, M McNamee for Mackin 64m.

Referee - Gearoid O Conamha (Galway).