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Details

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.

Meath

1Harry Hogan Goalkeeper
2Robin Clarke Defender
3Conor McGill Defender
4Eoin Harkin 18 Defender
5Jason Scully 25 Forward 35'
6Donal Keogan Defender
7Cathal Hickey 20 Defender
8Bryan Menton Midfielder 25', 33', 43', 70+3'
9Ronan Jones 21 Midfielder 57'
10James McEntee Defender 5'
11Cillian O’Sullivan Forward
12Jack O’Connor Forward 1'
36', 52', 60'
13Jordan Morris Forward 28', 41', 55', 64'
14Thomas O’Reilly Forward 15', 32'
15Joey Wallace 24 Forward
16Andrew Colgan Goalkeeper
17Gavin McGowan
18Jordan Muldoon 4 Defender
19James O’Hare Defender
20Ronan Ryan 7 Defender
21Jack Flynn 9 Midfielder 61'
22Daithí McGowan Forward
23Bryan McMahon Forward
24Mathew Costello 15 Forward 44'
25Shane Walsh 5 Forward
26David McEntee

Wicklow

1Mark Jackson Goalkeeper 26', 35', 56', 70'
2Malachy Stone Defender
3Patrick O’Keane Defender
4Tom Moran Defender
5Nicky Devereux 21 Defender
6Andy Maher Defender
7Zach Cullen Defender
8Padraig O’Toole 23 Midfielder 2', 9'
9JP Hurley 26 Midfielder
10Rory Stokes 22 Forward 34'
11Dean Healy Midfielder
12Darragh Fitzgerald Forward
13Mark Kenny Forward
14Kevin Quinn Forward 4'
15Eoin Darcy 20 Forward 31', 38', 48', 53'
16Shane Doyle
17Jack Treacy
18Conall Ó Gallchobhair
19Noel Mulhall Midfielder
20Jack Kirwan 15 Forward
21Arran Murphy 5 Defender
22Oisin Cullen 10 Forward
23Matthew Traynor 8
24Christopher O’Brien
25Mark Cullen
26Oisin McGraynor 9 Midfielder 70+3'
  • 52'

    Jack O'Connor with a point for Meath

  • 48'

    Eoin Darcy with a free for Wicklow

  • 47'

    JP Hurley off

  • 47'

    Wicklow make their first change Oisin McGraynor on

  • 44'

    A great finish from sub Matthew Costello

  • 43'

    Bryan Menton with a point

  • 41'

    Jordan Morris with a point for Meath

  • 39'

    Eoin Darcy with a second point from a free for Wicklow

  • 38'

    Jack O'Connor with a free for Meath

  • 38'

    Joey Wallace goes off

  • 37'

    A second chance for Meath with Matthew Costello in

  • 37'

    Wicklow kick their first wide of the game

  • 36'

    Cathal Hickey the player to go off

  • 36'

    Ronan Ryan is on for Meath for the second half

  • 36'

    And we're back here in Navan. A big 35 minutes plus

  • 35'

    Half-time here. Meath by four

  • 35'

    Mark Jackson kicks over the free

  • 35'

    Jason Scully the first player to be booked

  • 34'

    It's all go here. Rory Stokes with a good point for Wicklow

  • 32'

    A fine score from Menton

  • 31'

    Thomas O'Reilly with his second point of the game

  • 30'

    Eoin Darcy with a free for Wicklow

  • 28'

    Meath win a soft free which Jordan Morris kicks over

  • 26'

    Mark Jackson with the '45

  • 26'

    Meath lucky not to concede a goal. Robin Clarke puts it out for a '45

  • 25'

    Slow build-up for that point of Menton's

  • 25'

    Bryan Menton with a point for Meath

  • 24'

    O'Connor's effort comes back off the upright.

  • 23'

    Another free for Meath which Jack O'Connor will take

  • 23'

    He's ok to continue

  • 22'

    Meath's keeper Harry Hogan is receiving treatment.

  • 22'

    Wicklow put in a dangerous ball but Bryan Menton is back to gather.

  • 21'

    Jack O'Connor with a wide from the free. It's Meath's second wide. Wicklow have kicked none

  • 21'

    Wicklow give away a needless free for a foul on Joey Wallace. It seemed he wasn\'t going to get the ball

  • 15'

    Thomas O'Reilly with a good point for Meath's first point of the game

  • 15'

    Meath had two attacks and two goals.

  • 9'

    O'Toole gets his second point and his side's third

  • 6'

    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.

  • 5'

    High ball in from Bryan Menton is finished to the net by James McEntee

  • 4'

    Kevin Quinn's point cuts the lead to one

  • 2'

    Padraig O'Toole hits over Wicklow's opening score

  • 1'

    About 15 seconds gone on the clock and Meath are three points up. Great pass from Ronan Jones

  • 1'

    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

Ground

Pairc Tailteann
Páirc Tailteann, Brews Hill, Navan Urban ED, The Municipal District of Navan, County Meath, Leinster, C15 A2AY, Ireland

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