Sport

Gaels whip up storm

Meath SFC Final: Blackhall Gaels 2-9 Simonstown 1-9 It looked far from likely when they trailed by nine points at the break, …

Mon Sept 22 2003 - 01:00

Meath SFC Final: Blackhall Gaels 2-9 Simonstown 1-9 It looked far from likely when they trailed by nine points at the break, but Blackhall Gaels turned in a storming second-half display to turn matters around dramatically in an exciting Meath senior football championship final at Páirc Tailteann.

Simonstown Gaels looked well on the way to completing a Navan double, after O'Mahonys had taken the intermediate title, when 1-7 to 0-1 to the good at the interval but then their opponents were very much the masters on the restart.

Blackhall appeared to be badly missing their suspended county player Nigel Nestor in the first half but their opponents were equally slow in starting. However, a goal from midfielder and captain Alan Meade on 14 minutes had a galvanising effect on Simonstown.

With Evan Kelly and Ned Kearney showing up well in attack, they built up a nine-point advantage. It took Blackhall 27 minutes to get on the scoreboard with Mark Crampton punching over the bar.

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But it was so different after the change of ends with midfielder Anthony Moyles coming a lot more into the game and full forward Tadhg Brosnan also leaving his calling card.

Twelve minutes into the second half Brosnan had a shot blocked out when the full forward looked certain to finish to the net. However, Robert Cox was on hand to beat Gary Lynch with a low shot and Simonstown's lead was down to three points, 1-8 to 1-5.

Cox's goal was soon followed by points from the same player and Mark Crampton. Then they hit four wides before Moyles levelled matters with five minutes to go. Barry McKeon put them ahead with a shot from 40 metres and that was followed by the winners' second goal.

A cross from the left by Moyles was flashed to the net by Brosnan and the issue was more or less decided. John Lunney replied with a point at the other end but it was too little too late and the final whistle sounded on the kick-out.

BLACKHALL GAELS: M Whelan; D O'Brien, P Nestor, B Moyles; G Beirne, S Nally, A Dalton; A Moyles (0-2), J O'Brien; B McKeon (0-2), M Ferris (0-1), D Beirne; R Cox (1-1), T Brosnan (1-1), M Crampton (0-2). Sub: O Creevey for J O'Brien.

SIMONSTOWN GAELS: G Lynch; S Leddy, R McGrath, M Byrne; C McGrath, H Traynor, B Flood; P Meade, A Meade (1-0); S Kennedy, E Kelly (0-2), S Kenny; R Brady (0-1), N Kearney (0-3), J Lunney (0-3). Subs: E Donoghue for Leddy, S O'Neill for Flood, C Kenny for P Meade.

Referee: C Reilly (St Mary's).