Meath 1-15 Monaghan 1-9:SÉAMUS McENANEY'S Meath got off to a winning start in Division Two of the Allianz Football League with six points to spare over the side he managed for six years at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday night. Former All-Star Stephen Bray spearheaded the success with an impressive contribution of six points, four from play, as Monaghan were left to rue a succession of deplorable misses in the second half.
The home side, for whom Graham Reilly and Paddy Gilsenan also enjoyed good moments in attack, made much better use of their possession up front, hitting just five wides compared to 16, 12 after the break, by their opponents.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the result and the performance,” said winning manager McEnaney before adding: “It always means a lot to me when the group of players I am managing show a lot of pride in wearing the jersey and Meath gave us that tonight.
“They worked tremendously hard, scored 1-15, which is a very good score for the month of February. We took a lot of stick before today and some of it was deserved. I have a serious respect for Monaghan, I was with them for six years but tonight my loyalties lay firmly in the Meath dressing-room.”
The Meath boss was pleased with the manner in which his side responded after midfielder James Turley went forward to fire Monaghan’s goal after 21 minutes. That gave the Farney side a 1-3 to 0-4 advantage but the home side hit back strongly with the next four scores and led by 0-10 to 1-6 at the break.
McEnaney was boosted by the return of Cian Ward and Joe Sheridan (a half-time substitute) and points from Bray (free), Gilsenan and Sheridan left them four to the good 16 minutes after the restart.
At that stage Meath appeared to be cruising to victory but then Monaghan virtually owned the ball for a spell. The Royals were forced to replace both of their midfielders. However, Monaghan kicked wide after wide.
They lost corner-back Colin Walsh to a hamstring injury after only five minutes but manager Eamonn McEneaney felt the game was lost during that wasteful spell in the second half.
Meath clinched the win when centre-back Shane McAnarney went forward to take a pass from Ward and finish to the roof of the net with six minutes left. Shortly after that Gilsenan picked up a second yellow card as the winners finished with 14 men.
MEATH: D Gallagher; M Burke, B Menton, G O’Brien; C O‘Connor, S McAnarney (1-0), C McGuinness; B Meade (0-1), M Ward; S Kenny, G Reilly (0-3), D Tobin; P Gilsenan (0-2), S Bray (0-6, 0-2 frees), C Ward (0-2). Subs: J Sheridan (0-1) for Tobin (half-time), C Lenehan for Kenny (47 mins), T Walsh for M Ward (56 mins), C Gillespie for Meade (61 mins).
MONAGHAN: M Keogh; D Morgan (0-1), Darren Hughes (0-2, one free), C Walsh; D Mone, V Corey (0-1), David Hughes; E Lennon, J Turley (1-0); N McAdam (0-1), E Duffy (0-2), M Downey; P Finlay (0-2, 0-1 free), K Hughes, C McGuinness. Subs: R McNally for Walsh (5 mins), D Malone for David Hughes, S Gollogly for Downey (both half-time), C Hanratty for McGuinness (50 mins), D Clerkin for McAdam (66 mins).
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).
