Published: Wednesday, 31st March, 2010 5:00pm

Meath falter at final hurdle

by Jimmy Geoghegan

Derry 2-16 Meath 1-17

Tough times ahead for Meath hurling manager TJ Reilly who will be hoping for an improved performance in next month's Christy Ring Cup.
Pic by==: 97

Compared to the drubbing handed out by Kerry a few weeks ago this defeat to Derry in the NHL Div 3A at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday was not as comprehensive.

Yet in other respects it was just as humiliating and not least because the Ulster side ended the contest with just 13 men yet still managed to secure the win that ensured them a place in the final against Kerry.

The last 15 minutes or so were totally forgettable from the home team's perspective as they relinquished a firm grip on the game literally collapsing at the wicket as the Oak Leaf County moved up a few gears in search of victory.

There was little to suggest in a pedestrian, slow-burning opening half that both sides would end the game without their full quota of players. There was nothing in the way of low blows or fisticuffs.

Then in the opening minutes of the second-half referee Jason O'Mahony suddenly stepped centre-stage when he showed red to Derry's Cathal Brunton. It seemed a harsh decision with Brunton picking up a second yellow.

A few minutes later a straight red was shown to Meath's Kevin Keena for a knee-high pull and with 52 minutes on the clock Derry's Liam Hinphey was sent for an early shower, the centre-back also picking up a second yellow for a foul.

At that point Meath were comfortably in front and were looking good to push on and win. In the time honoured tradition the team that was a man short became inspired and it was the home side who struggled to find any fluency.

The Meath management will be alarmed at the way their side's brittle confidence was completely shattered in the closing minutes of the game, after they had led for long spells.

Playing with the breeze in the opening half Meath had displayed plenty of invention and they deservedly went in at the interval with a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage. They pulled six points in front on 47 minutes when Neil Hackett swung a free in from the right, the ball was partially cleared. It broke to Noel Kirby who from 25 metres out rifled low to the net.

At that stage Meath were winning their fair share of breaks around midfield while the defence - in which Paul Fagan and David Donoghue impressed - were comfortable in absorbing what was thrown at them.

The game then turned on a fortunate goal for the Ulster side. Derry still trailed by six points with 66 minutes played when their influential midfielder Kevin Hinphy floated the ball in from near the sideline. His team-mate Feidhlim Kelly stretched out his stick and in doing so appeared to distract Stephen Quinn. The ball ended up in the net.

David Kirby responded with a point before Derry hit back on the stroke of full-time when Hinphey again fired to the net from 35 metres out as Meath struggled to clear properly.

As the game moved into injury-time Hinphey slotted over from long range. The drama wasn't finished just yet as Ruairi Convey pointed deep into injury-time to give his side the last-gasp victory.

TJ Reilly's men did themselves no favours by making a litany of fumbles and mistakes in the closing stages when cool heads were needed to withstand Derry's late surge.

It was a bitterly disappointing conclusion for the Royals who did produce good spells of hurling. Stephen Donoghue did well at midfield slotting over three points from play.

Quinn will be disappointed to have conceded Derry's opening goal especially, but he did make an excellent save from Sean McBride early in the second-half.

As usual Stephen Clynch weighed-in with a booming, long-range effort although he wasn't as influential as in other outings. Hackett was Meath's top scorer with five points, three frees, and he was another who was relatively quiet in play.

Padraig Keogh powered forward for a fine point while David Kirby, Philip Garvey, Keena and Mark Mullally also worked hard to dig out scores. When Noel Kirby's stinging shot made the net dance Meath supporters in the meagre attendance had reasons to be optimistic.

They could hardly have expected to see their team fold in the way they did in the closing minutes and stumble to another defeat..

Meath - S Quinn; M Foley, P Fagan, D Donoghue; J Boyle, S Clynch (0-1), M Horan; S Donoghue (0-4), P Keogh (0-1); P Durnin, N Hackett (0-5), K Keena (0-1); D Kirby (0-2), D Muldoon, M Mullally (0-2). Subs - N Kirby (1-0) for Muldoon 19mins, P Garvey (0-1) for Durnin 59m.

Derry - B Lagan; S McCullagh, E McKeever, R McCloskey; A McCloskey, L Hinphey, C Brunton; P O'Kane, K Hinphey (2-3); F Kelly (0-1), R Convey (0-5); P McCloskey (0-1); P Henry (0-3), M Conway, S McBride (0-3). Subs - O McCloskey for Henry 46mins.

Referee - Jason O'Mahony.

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