Sport

Coyle resigns as Meath bow out

Limerick 4-12 Meath 4-3 MEATH manager Colm Coyle resigned from his post after outsiders Limerick produced a big upset in the…

Mon Jul 21 2008 - 01:00

Limerick 4-12 Meath 4-3MEATH manager Colm Coyle resigned from his post after outsiders Limerick produced a big upset in the football qualifiers by trouncing Coyle's side at the Gaelic Grounds.

Limerick led by a whopping 17 points with 12 minutes remaining but Meath staged a late rally which yielded three goals in the last eight minutes. But it was too little too late as Limerick toasted Ian Ryan who scored 3-7, with one of the goals coming from a penalty.

Meath's Cian Ward put his side in front after four minutes. Ian Ryan equalised with a free for Limerick and they hit the front after 11 minutes. Seanie Buckley linked with Mike Crowley who was hauled down by Neil McKeigue, who was yellow carded. Ryan fired home from the penalty spot.

Ryan grabbed his second goal after 16 minutes. Jim Donovan's shot came back off the post and Ryan pounced to shoot past Brendan Murphy to put the home side 2-1 to 0-1 ahead. Ger Collins and Mike Crowley (free) added points for Limerick before Meath had their first score for 18 minutes when Brian Farrell pointed a free.

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Ward hit Meath's third point before the inspired Ryan added two superb points to leave his side 2-6 to 0-3 in front at the interval. And Ryan struck again two minutes after the resumption.

His first attempt at goal came back off the upright but he punched the rebound to the net. And the icing was on the cake when, after 22 hand passes, John Galvin had goal number four to seal Limerick's victory.

Meath's first score of the second half came after 57 minutes thanks to a goal from Farrell.

Substitute Joe Sheridan added two more goals, one from a penalty, before Stephen Bray added a fourth late goal for the visitors.

LIMERICK:S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy. S Gallagher; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J O'Donovan, J Galvin (1-1); S Kelly, J Ryan, S Buckley (0-1); G Collins (0-1), M Crowley (0-2, one free), I Ryan (3-7). Subs: J Cooke for Kelly (inj 20 mins), L O'Dwyer for Browne (inj, 25 mins), JB Murphy for Cooke, (46 mins), S Walsh for Carroll (60mins), M Reidy for Ryan (68mins).

MEATH:B Murphy, N McKeigue, D Fay, C McGill; S Kenny, E Harrington, C King; M Ward, N Crawford; A Nestor, B Meade, P Byrne; S Bray (1-0), B Farrell (1-1), C Ward (0-2). Subs: S O'Rourke for M Ward (30mins), J Sheridan (2-0, one pen) for Byrne (48mins), C O'Connor for Kenny (55 mins).

Referee:V Neary (Mayo)