Tipp leave Navan empty handed

Meath             0-15

Tipperary     1-8

 

By Shane Brophy at Pairc Tailteann, Navan

 

Tipperary suffered a four point defeat in the opening round of the Allianz Football League as Meath finished strongly in Navan today.

The visitors played against the strong wind in the first half but were pretty comfortable in the main in defence with Brian Fox effective as sweeper along side debutante Daire Brennan at centre back who was very composed.

However when Meath rattled off four quick points to lead 0-5 to 0-1 after 22 minutes, Tipp looked in difficulty but responded well with a Liam Boland fisted point and a goal from a Conor Sweeney penalty after another debutante Dan O’Meara had been fouled.

Tipp trailed 0-7 to 1-2 at the break and cut the deficit to the minimum early after the resumption through a Brian Fox point but Meath were impressive on the counter-attack with James McEntee in particular effective while Bryan Menton and Mickey Newman also landing points as the home side opened a four point lead.

However, Tipp then enjoyed a purple patch with a Liam McGrath point being added to by three Conor Sweeney frees as they levelled on 52 minutes, however Tipp missed a great goal chance two minutes before that with Liam Casey losing possession at the wrong time with the goal at his mercy.

From then on, Meath reasserted themselves with sub Graham Reilly, McEntee and Newman (free) cancelling out a Liam McGrath point before Tipp’s hopes suffered a big dent on 64 minutes when Steven O’Brien was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Tipp also lost sub Josh Keane to the sin-bin in added time as sub Cillian O’Sullivan rounded off an impressive second half performance and deserved win for Meath.

Next up for Tipperary is Fermanagh next Sunday in Semple Stadium at 2.00pm.

Full report in this weeks Nenagh Guardian.

 

 

MATCH DIGEST

Man of the Match: James McEntee (Meath)

SCORERS – Meath: Michael Newman 0-7 (6 frees); Thomas O’Reilly 0-2; James McEntee, Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee, Ben Brennan, Cillian O’Sullivan (free), Graham Reilly 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Conor Sweeney 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-3 frees); Liam McGrath 0-3 (2 frees); Liam Boland, Brian Fox 0-1 each.

 

TEAMS – Meath: Andrew Colgan; Ronan Ryan, Conor McGill, Seamus Lavin; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Niall Kane; Bryan Menton, Shane McEntee; Ethan Devine, Ben Brennan, Michael Burke; Darragh Campion, Michael Newman, Thomas O’Reilly.

Subs: Cillian O’Sullivan for Burke (HT); Sean Tobin for Devine (48); Graham Reilly for Campion (55); Bryan McMahon for Brennan (58); Eoin Lynch for O’Reilly (70+4).

Tipperary: Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, John Meagher, Emmett Moloney; Kevin Fahey, Daire Brennan, Jimmy Feehan, Steven O’Brien, Liam Casey; Liam Boland, Liam McGrath, Brian Fox, Jack Kennedy; Conor Sweeney, Dan O’Meara.

Subs: Philip Austin for O’Meara (47); Josh Keane for Boland (55); Colm O’Shaughnessy for Feehan (64); Kevin O’Halloran for Kennedy (70);

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)