Monaghan 2-16
Meath 3-8
KIERAN HUGHES LATE goal sealed Monaghan’s triumph against Meath in tonight’s Allianz Division 3 league decider in Croke Park.
Hughes charged in from the left wing in the 68th minute and after his first goal bound shot was blocked by Meath net minder Paddy O’Rourke, the Scotstown player finished the rebound emphatically to the net.
Hughes older brother Darren then got forward from his defensive berth in injury-time to tap over the point that sealed a four-point success for the Farney men.
Monaghan needed those late scores as Meath had launched themselves back into contention when Stephen Bray bagged their third goal of the night in the 66th minute. The Navan O’Mahony’s forward seized a knockdown by Mickey Newman and sidestepped Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan before finishing to the net.
That cut the gap to the minimum but the Leinster outfit could not get closer than that to their Ulster opponents. The two sides had both secured promotion to Division 2 before tonight’s game but they still produced a vibrant contest in front of 7,742 spectators.
The teams had clashed earlier in the league when Monaghan routed Meath by 1-18 to 2-3 yet this game was a closer affair. However Monaghan emerged victorious again to claim league silverware for the first time since 2005, when they had also got the better of Meath in Croke Park.
Monaghan had got an early boost in the 11th minute when wing-forward Eoin Duffy, who was deservedly selected as man-of-the-match afterwards, capped a fine team move with a blistering drive to the net past Meath goalkeeper Paddy O’Rourke.
It was a terrific strike and propelled Monaghan into a 1-5 to 0-1 advantage as forwards Christopher McGuinness, Kieran Hughes and Conor McManus had all notched classy points.
Meath were reeling but their challenge was revived a minute after Duffy’s strike when Eamon Wallace’s magical through ball released Mickey Newman and he slotted home a goal.
The teams traded points then before the break with McManus on the mark for Monaghan while Wallace, Bray and Ciaran Lenehan knocked over some brilliant points for Meath.
Monaghan lead 1-9 to 1-5 at the interval but Meath enjoyed a superb start to the second-half with Lenehan popping over a point, wing-back Davy Dalton racing clear before ramming home a superb goal and Newman converting a free. That string of scores sent them into a 2-7 to 1-9 lead.
But Monaghan then took over and kept Meath scoreless for a 20-minute period while registering points from Paul Finlay (2), Duffy (2) and Owen Lennon during that time frame themselves.
Monaghan looked set to run out comfortable winners then but there was plenty late drama with Bray and Hughes both firing home goals before eventually it was Farney captain Owen Lennon who accepted the cup from Monaghan man and GAA Director-General Paraic Duffy.
Conor McManus of Monaghan with Brian Meade of Meath
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Scorers for Monaghan: Eoin Duffy 1-3, Conor McManus 0-5 (0-1f), Kieran Hughes 1-1, Paul Finlay 0-3 (0-2f), Owen Lennon 0-2, Christopher McGuinness, Darren Hughes 0-1 each.
Scorers for Meath: Michael Newman 1-2 (0-1f), Stephen Bray 1-1, Davy Dalton 1-0, Ciaran Lenehan 0-2, Bryan Menton, Paddy Gilsenan, Eamonn Wallace 0-1 each.
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan (Scotstown); Colin Walshe (Doohamlet), Fintan Kelly (Clones), Drew Wylie (Ballybay); Darren Hughes (Scotstown), Neil McAdam (Monaghan Harps), Kieran Duffy (Latton); Dick Clerkin (Currin), Owen Lennon (Latton); Paul Finlay (Ballybay), Dermot Malone (Castleblayney), Eoin Duffy (Latton); Christopher McGuinness (Ballybay), Conor McManus (Clontibret), Kieran Hughes (Scotstown).
Subs: Stephen Gollogly (Carrickmacross) for Malone (30), Dessie Mone (Clontibret) for Clerkin (42), Padraig Donahgy (Donaghmoyne) for McGuinness (53), Vincent Corey (Clontibret) for Wylie (55).
MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke (Skryne); Eoghan Harrington (Wolfe Tones), Kevin Reilly (Navan O’Mahony’s), Caolan Young (Summerhill); Ciaran Lenehan (Skryne), Bryan Menton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Davy Dalton (Summerhill); Brian Meade (Rathkenny), Conor Gillespie (Summerhill); Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle), Graham Reilly (St Colmcille’s), Peadar Byrne (Ballinlough); Michael Newman (Kilmainham), Stephen Bray (Navan O’Mahony’s), Eamonn Wallace (Ratoath).
Subs: David Larkin (Summerhill) for Gilsenan (28), Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore-Ashbourne) for Reilly (54), Seamus Kenny (Simonstown Gaels) for Byrne (54), Brian Dillon (Navan O’Mahony’s) for Dalton (55), Brian Farrell (Nobber) for Bray (67).
Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)
