Meath improve scoring efficiency to claim impressive win over Cavan

NFL Division Two: Meath 3-21 Cavan 0-20

Robbie Brennan pointed to the improvement in Meath’s scoring efficiency as the Royal County claimed their first competitive win under the new management.

Fresh off creating over 40 scoring chances against Cork, but still suffering defeat, the Royals made more of their opportunities in Navan and this time prevailed.

Former captain Ronan Jones struck two goals while Jordan Morris, who finished with 1-4, raised the other green flag though all three goals were soft concessions from Cavan’s perspective.

Jones kicked to an empty net for the first after Cavan’s goalkeeper had gone upfield and been caught out with a turnover while the Morris goal was a soccer-style poke that squirmed through replacement goalkeeper Nevin O’Donnell’s legs.

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It still amounted to a significant improvement from Meath on Round 1 with nine different scorers, eight points from Eoghan Frayne and impressive performances from the likes of Jack Flynn, Morris and Jones.

“Figures wise it was a lot better than what we did against Cork,” said manager Brennan. “A few of the lads were out with the footballs themselves during the week, practising on their own pitches. That was an encouraging sign because we can only get so many minutes with the lads. The efficiency was much better and when you do that you tend to have a good chance of winning games.”

The teams shared 10 two-pointers between them with Cavan hitting six of those, three of which came from the returning Gearoid McKiernan in the second-half. Darragh Lovett also kicked nine points on his full NFL debut.

But Cavan were always chasing the game and were powerless to prevent Meath turning a 1-12 to 0-8 half-time lead into a 10-point win.

Meath: B Hogan (0-0-2, tpf); D Keogan, S Rafferty, S Lavin; C Caulfield, E Harkin (0-0-1), S Coffey; J Flynn (0-0-1), B Menton (0-1-0); R Jones (2-0-0), J Kinlough, C Duke; J Morris (1-0-4, 1f), S Walsh (0-0-1), E Frayne (0-2-4; 1 tpf, 1f, 1m). Subs: R Kinsella (0-0-2) for Menton (45); J Conlon for Walsh (53); C Gray for Jones (60); C O’Sullivan for Duke (63); A Lynch for Kinlough (68).

Cavan: G O’Rourke; B O’Connell, N Carolan, C Reilly; J McLoughlin, D McVeety (0-0-1), O Kiernan (0-1-0, tp); P Faulkner, J Smith; G Smith, L Molloy, C Brady; D Lovett (0-2-5; 1tp, 1tpf, 4f), C Madden (0-0-2), S McEvoy. Subs: G McKiernan (0-3-0) for Molloy (h/t); L Fortune for Faulkner (48); N O’Donnell for O’Rourke (52); R O’Neill for McEvoy (60); E Crowe for McLoughlin (61).

Referee: S Mulhare (Laois).

Louth 1-15 Roscommon 1-17

Control was not at a premium in the finish as Roscommon hung on to the win and their unbeaten start to Division Two against a spirited Louth side.

When Roscommon midfielder Keith Doyle finished off a move of supreme confidence at the back post, Davy Burke’s side looked to go home unscathed and deservedly comfortable winners, even with a gluttonous eight minutes of normal time remaining.

However, the new enhancements don’t allow the game to fade out, they now fizzle. Louth, on the day of their five-year return to the Integral GAA grounds finally came to play on Drogheda soil.

With nothing to play for, Louth were roared on by the home stand once more. Ciaran Downey got them going with a two-pointer beyond the arc and Val Leddy made them believe, with a thundering goal past Conor Carroll to cut the gap to three points.

The debutant’s first touch had all sets of the supporters in pandemonium. Roscommon were scrapping and fellow replacement Conor Cox steadied them against the ropes with a long range score that would break Louth’s momentum.

Club-mate’s Dara McDonnell and Sam Mulroy landed the games final two points but the overreliance on Mulroy’s free-taking caught up with them, despite the exciting finish.

Mulroy missed two crucial long range frees in that period of dominance that really would have tested Roscommon’s mettle.

On the other hand, the cushion the two Murtagh brothers accumulated was worthy of victory. Ciaráin made his first start since his return and combined majestically with Diarmuid to tally ten points between them.

Louth could not handle the pair and get a handle on their own kick-outs either. A full press on Niall McDonnell’s restarts was well worked and duly punished by the Murtagh’s.

Centre back Shane Cunnane also got forward as a result and found the range with a mark.

The inability to start four of their starters from the opening game was compounded further for Louth by the loss of All-Star Craig Lennon as early as the third minute.

It may add to the greater sense of resilience Ger Brennan’s side showed overall, but the loss column will not care. Roscommon, after two rounds, already have the look of a side that will yo-yo upwards once again.

Louth: N McDonnell; D Campbell, P Lynch, D McKenny; C McKeever, E Carolan, C Lennon (0-0-1); T Durnin, D McDonnell (0-0-1); A McDonnell (0-0-1), S Mulroy (0-2-4, 2 tpf, 4f), C Murphy; D McConnon, C Downey (0-1-1, 1tp), S Reynolds. Subs: T McDonnell for Lennon (3), P Grimes Murphy for Murphy (39), K McArdle (0-0-1) for Reynolds (43), L Jackson for Carolan (49), V Leddy (0-1-0) for McConnon (62).

Roscommon: C Carroll; N Higgins, P Frost, C Neary; B Stack, S Cunnane (0-0-1, 1m), J McManus; E Nolan, K Doyle (1-0-0); S Killoran, C Murtagh (0-0-4), E Smith (0-0-1); D Murtagh (0-1-4, 1 tpf, 1f), D Smith (0-0-2), D Cregg (0-0-1, 1f). Subs: S Lambe for Nolan (49), C McKeon for Killoran (52), U Harney for D Smith (57), R Fallon for McManus (Blood 57) Ben O’Carroll (0-0-1) for Cregg (62), C Cox (0-0-1) for D Murtagh (70).

Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)

Down 1-19 Cork 2-15

Down came from seven points behind to overcome Cork and earn vital the two points at Páirc Esler in Newry.

It was the proverbial game of two halves as Cork cruised into a seven-point lead with a controlling opening 30 minutes before Down started to show their teeth five minutes before the break.

It took only 12 minutes before Chris Óg Jones rattled the Down net after taking advantage of loose handling from captain Pierce Laverty and their physical pressure kept the Mourne men helmed in around the 40-metre arc.

That said Cork still floated over five first-half two-pointers, with two coming from play, with Rory Maguire opening the scoring with the first orange flag of the day.

Odhrán Murdock pulled back a point for Down and then Cork nabbed their goal before Oisín Savage added another with a free. Down were creating the odd chance but their passing wasn’t crisp enough in attack and Daniel O’Mahony and Neil Lordan mopped up.

The two-pointers were a great boost for Cork but a killer for Down as Mark Cronin tagged on two frees before Ceilum Doherty and Pat Havern. with a free, replied. But when Brian O’Driscoll boomed over another two-pointer from play, Cork’s lead had gone to 1-8 to 0-4 with 20 minutes played.

Havern and Seán McDonnell traded points but the difference was McDonnell’s was another orange-flag score. Down displayed a bit of fight moments before the break and goalkeeper Ronan Burns, making his county debut, converted a 45 and Savage made it back-to-back points. The Mourne men also had chances for goals with Savage and James Guinness being blocked and then Guinness missed a gilt-edged opportunity.

Down carried on from the positivity they showed before the break as they looked to close the seven-point gap. Guinness and Havern launched back-to-back two-pointers to give the home supporters something to cheer about and Guinness then tagged on another point.

Seán Walsh and Cronin hit back for Cork but when Havern stroked over a 40-metre free the sides were all square with 49 minutes on the clock.

However, Cork had weathered the Down storm as goalkeeper Patrick Doyle converted a free and then Seán Connell rattled the net, showing a clean pair of heels in the process. A converted free from Cronin then helped the Rebels to a 2-15 to 0-16 lead.

It was frantic football and there was still another twist in the tail as Ryan Magill slipped his pass to cousin Danny to lash into to Cork net to make it a one-point game, with five minutes of normal time left. The pressure cranked up for the home support when Havern kicked over another two-pointer to give Down the lead for the first time, with four additional minutes to play.

Cork were gifted the chance to grab the win but O’Driscoll lost his footing as he kicked for two points, to screw his shot wide, much to Down’s delight.

DOWN: Ronan Burns (0-0-1, 45’); Peter Fegan, Ryan McEvoy, Patrick McCarthy; Gareth McKibben, Pierce Laverty, Caolan Mooney; Daniel Guinness, Odhrán Murdock (0-0-3); Ceilum Doherty (0-0-1), James Guinness (0-1-1), Danny Magill (1-0-1), Oisín Savage (0-0-2, 1f), Pat Havern (0-4-0, 3tpf), Ryan Magill.

Subs: Conor McCrickard for McKibben (45 mins); Aaron McClements for Savage, Eugene Branigan for Mooney (both 55); Miceal Rooney for J Guinness (59).

CORK: Patrick Doyle (0-0-1, f); Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Neil Loughran; Brian O’Driscoll (0-1-0), Rory Maguire (0-1-0), Maitiu Tailluir; Seán Walsh (0-0-1), Colm O’Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Seán Porter, Eoghan McSweeney (0-0-1); Mark Cronin (0-2-2, 2tpf), Chris Óg Jones (1-0-0), Seán McDonnell (1-1-0).

Subs: Tommy Walsh for S Porter (29 mins); Cathail Maguire for E Sweeney (55).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).

Monaghan 2-29 Westmeath 2-21

Monaghan made it two wins from two in the Allianz NFL Division Two with a high-scoring win over Westmeath in Clones. Despite starting slowly in both halves, Gabriel Bannigan’s Monaghan led for the majority of the match, spurred on by a sparkling performance from wing back Conor McCarthy, who kicked seven points from play.

Westmeath started brightly, but Monaghan responded through McCarthy and a two-point free by Rory Beggan, during a spell where the hosts took over the middle third. Neither side could maintain dominance for long and while Westmeath stayed in touch via two-point efforts free from Loughlin (free) and Sam McCartan, David Garland managed one of his own at the other end.

McCarthy had four points to his name by the half-hour mark as Monaghan pushed their tally well into double figures, but Westmeath were right back in it when Ronan Wallace struck the opening goal. Monaghan hit back in style, though, with a Ryan O’Toole goal making it 1-15 to 1-9 at half-time.

Westmeath were on the front foot again at the start of the second half, with Robbie Forde scrambling to the net. The gap was back down to the minimum, but Monaghan were always able to retain a narrow lead.

Loughlin landed a brace of two-point frees to finish in double digits for a second week in a row, only for Monaghan to end with a flourish, as sub McCarron fired home their second goal.

Monaghan: R Beggan (0-2-0, 2tpf); D Byrne, K Lavelle (0-0-1), R Wylie; C McNulty (0-0-1), R O’Toole (1-0-0), C McCarthy (0-0-7); M McCarville, G McPhillips; R McAnespie (0-0-2), B McBennett, M Hamill (0-0-1); D Garland (0-1-3, 1f, 1m), S Mooney (0-1-4, 3f), S Jones.

Subs: B McCaul for McPhillips (48); J McCarron (1-0-2) for Jones, J Irwin for McBennett (both 50); K Loughran for McAnespie (inj., 61); D McDonnell for McCarthy (inj., 67).

Westmeath: C McCormack; J Gonoud, C Dillon (0-0-1), D Giles; D McCartan, C Drumm, S McCartan (0-1-2); R Wallace (1-0-0), E McCabe (0-0-1); K O’Sullivan, B Cooney (0-0-1), M Whittaker (0-0-2); R Forde (1-0-2, 1f), L Loughlin (0-3-4, 2f), S Smith.

Subs: B Kelly (0-0-1) for Smith (H-T); E Gaffney for O’Sullivan (47); F O’Hara for Cooney (53); K Martin for D McCartan (58); J Geoghegan for Forde (68).

Referee: K Eannetta (Tyrone).

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