Meath Catches Fire With Championship Triumph!
Meath withstand a Tyrone fightback to give their Division Two promotion hopes a huge boost with a 3-24 to 2-22 victory at Croke Park.
Meath withstood a Tyrone fightback to give their Division Two promotion hopes a huge boost with a 3-24 to 2-22 victory at Croke Park. The Royal County, who are playing their 'home' games at GAA headquarters due to the redevelopment of Pairc Tailteann, registered seven orange flags and three green over the 70 minutes. Meath got off to the perfect start as Aaron Lynch smashed the ball to the back of the net after just three minutes.
Tyrone responded through Ethan Jordan, who added three more efforts from 45's to the first score of the game, alongside a rasping goal, to give the Red Hands a 1-5 to 1-0 lead after the first quarter. This would prove to be as good as it would get for Malachy O'Rourke's side as Jack O'Connor took the game by the scruff of the neck. The Meath forward landed four two-pointers from play, before rolling home a fine solo goal to leave his side 2-12 to 1-11 ahead at the break.
It could have been worse for Tyrone at the break. Lynch rolled the ball into the net with the final action of the half, but referee Niall Cullen adjudged that the play came after the hooter had sounded. There was no sign of a let-up from Robbie Brennan's side early in the second half as they landed 1-6 without reply in a ruthless four minute spell.
Eoghan Frayne and Ruairi Kinsella (two) landed orange flags before Lynch fired home his second goal of the evening - Meath led 3-19 to 1-13 after just 43 minutes. Pre-match the men in white and red were boosted by the return of Darragh Canavan after his travel plans were cut short. The star man's introduction coincided with a rally from his team as they struck an unanswered 1-7.