WicklowDetails
| Date | Time | Competition | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2022 | 2:00 pm | Leinster SFC | 2022 |
Match Report
Leinster SFC: Goals key for Meath
Meath advanced to the Leinster semi-finals with a 10-point win over Wicklow at Páirc Tailteann. The Royals’ fitness and sharpness told in the end.
The Royals’ fitness and sharpness told in the end. Wicklow overcame the concession of two goals inside the opening five minutes to trail at the break by just four points. Meath were sluggish in the opening half but upped their game in the second half and added two more goals to their tally. Wicklow got a late consolation goal through sub Oisin McGraynor.
With barely 15 seconds gone on the clock Meath had scored their first goal; Ronan Jones with a perfect ball and Jack O’Connor finished to the net. Wicklow kicked points from Padraig O’Toole and Kevin Quinn to cut the gap to one after four minutes.
Meath got their second goal in the fifth minute; Bryan Menton with a high ball in and James McEntee got the vital touch. Wicklow conceded four goals in their previous game with Laois and their defensive frailties were exposed again.
O’Toole replied for Wicklow but Thomas O’Reilly and Menton kicked over points to open up a five point lead.
Despite having scored those two early goals Meath found it hard to get a hold on the game and Wicklow certainly put it up to them. Robin Clarke had to be alert to deflect the ball out for a ‘45 in the 26th minute. Mark Jackson came up and kicked the ‘45 over the bar.
The lead was six in the 33rd minute when Menton kicked over his second of the game but points from Rory Stokes and Jackson (free) cut the gap to four going in at the interval - 2-5 to 0-7.
O’Connor and Eoin Darcy traded frees before Meath scored 1-2 to kill off Wicklow’s challenge. Jordan Morris and Menton hit over frees before substitute Matthew Costello found the back of the net in the 44th minute.
Wicklow tried to stay with Meath but Andy McEntee’s side were always able to keep that nine point advantage. Meath got a fourth goal in the 61st minute when Morris combined with sub Jack Flynn and he made no mistake.
Morris followed up with a point. In stoppage time Wicklow got a goal when sub Oisin McGraynor fisted the ball to the net.
Timeline
| Jack O'Connor | 1' | |
| 2' | Padraig O'Toole | |
| 4' | Kevin Quinn | |
| James McEntee | 5' | |
| 9' | Padraig O'Toole | |
| Thomas O'Reilly | 15' | |
| Bryan Menton | 25' | |
| 26' | Mark Jackson | |
| Jordan Morris | 28' | |
| 31' | Eoin Darcy | |
| Thomas O'Reilly | 32' | |
| Bryan Menton | 33' | |
| 34' | Rory Stokes | |
| Jason Scully | 35' | |
| Cathal Hickey Ronan Ryan |
35' | |
| 35' | Mark Jackson | |
| Jack O'Connor | 36' | |
| Joey Wallace Mathew Costello |
38' | |
| 38' | Eoin Darcy | |
| Jordan Morris | 41' | |
| Bryan Menton | 43' | |
| Mathew Costello | 44' | |
| 47' | JP Hurley Oisin McGraynor |
|
| 48' | Eoin Darcy | |
| Jack O'Connor | 52' | |
| 53' | Eoin Darcy | |
| 53' | Rory Stokes Oisin Cullen |
|
| Jordan Morris | 55' | |
| 56' | Mark Jackson | |
| Ronan Jones | 57' | |
| Jack O'Connor | 60' | |
| Ronan Jones Jack Flynn |
60' | |
| Jack Flynn | 61' | |
| Jason Scully Shane Walsh |
62' | |
| Eoin Harkin Jordan Muldoon |
63' | |
| Jordan Morris | 64' | |
| 64' | Nicky Devereux Arran Murphy |
|
| 67' | Eoin Darcy Jack Kirwan |
|
| Bryan Menton | 70+3' | |
| 70' | Mark Jackson | |
| 70+1' | Padraig O'Toole Matthew Traynor |
|
| 70+3' | Oisin McGraynor |
Ground
| Pairc Tailteann |
|---|
| Páirc Tailteann, Brews Hill, Navan Urban ED, The Municipal District of Navan, County Meath, Leinster, C15 A2AY, Ireland |
Deniese O'Flaherty
Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland
Jack O'Connor with a point for Meath
Eoin Darcy with a free for Wicklow
JP Hurley off
Wicklow make their first change Oisin McGraynor on
A great finish from sub Matthew Costello
Bryan Menton with a point
Jordan Morris with a point for Meath
Eoin Darcy with a second point from a free for Wicklow
Jack O'Connor with a free for Meath
Joey Wallace goes off
A second chance for Meath with Matthew Costello in
Wicklow kick their first wide of the game
Cathal Hickey the player to go off
Ronan Ryan is on for Meath for the second half
And we're back here in Navan. A big 35 minutes plus
Half-time here. Meath by four
Mark Jackson kicks over the free
Jason Scully the first player to be booked
It's all go here. Rory Stokes with a good point for Wicklow
A fine score from Menton
Thomas O'Reilly with his second point of the game
Eoin Darcy with a free for Wicklow
Meath win a soft free which Jordan Morris kicks over
Mark Jackson with the '45
Meath lucky not to concede a goal. Robin Clarke puts it out for a '45
Slow build-up for that point of Menton's
Bryan Menton with a point for Meath
O'Connor's effort comes back off the upright.
Another free for Meath which Jack O'Connor will take
He's ok to continue
Meath's keeper Harry Hogan is receiving treatment.
Wicklow put in a dangerous ball but Bryan Menton is back to gather.
Jack O'Connor with a wide from the free. It's Meath's second wide. Wicklow have kicked none
Wicklow give away a needless free for a foul on Joey Wallace. It seemed he wasn\'t going to get the ball
Thomas O'Reilly with a good point for Meath's first point of the game
Meath had two attacks and two goals.
O'Toole gets his second point and his side's third
Wicklow conceded 4 goals last week against Laois so I'd say Meath manager Andy McEntee wanted his players to exploit the Garden County's defensive frailties.
High ball in from Bryan Menton is finished to the net by James McEntee
Kevin Quinn's point cuts the lead to one
Padraig O'Toole hits over Wicklow's opening score
About 15 seconds gone on the clock and Meath are three points up. Great pass from Ronan Jones
Game is underway here in Navan
A minute's silence in Pairc Tailteann
This is a game that many predict Meath to win but it's championship and anything can happen.
Wicklow have one game already behind them. They defeated Laois last weekend. It was some turnaround for the Garden County because they lost to Laois by 12 points earlier in the league
The words every journalist loves to hear before throw-in - no changes on either team.
Welcome to Final Whistle's coverage of Meath v Wicklow. I'm Deniese O'Flaherty and will be taking you through all the action