Mick O’Dowd steps down as Meath boss after Derry defeat

Derry 1-14 Meath 1-11

Mick O’Dowd stepped down as Meath manager after his side saw a seven-point advantage disappear in Owenbeg as Derry booked a place in round three of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers.

In the end Derry had three points to spare on their visitors after taking the lead in the match only as late as the 67th minute when substitute Niall Loughlin slotted home.

The Royals were full value for their 1-8 to 0-4 lead at the break, with Michael Newman’s tap-in goal in the 26th minute the stand out score of a one-sided half. O’Dowd’s men punched holes in Derry’s massed defence at regular intervals and had it not been for a high wide count and a couple of unconverted goal chances, they could have been home and hosed.

Shaky at the back, Derry were equally well below the accepted level in attack. With Mark Lynch often back supplementing the under-fire Derry rearguard, Emmet McGuckin cast a lonely figure up top at times with only his marker and sweeper Donal Keogan for company.

After the break, however, Derry were transformed. Six consecutive scores reduced their deficit to 1-8 to 0-10, but it was the manner in which Damian Barton’s team attacked the game that suggested Derry would win. Lifeless, rudderless and toothless in the opening half, the Oakleaf County produced their best 35 minutes of the season after the interval.

The talismanic Mark Lynch led the way, opening the second half scoring before finishing the game with six points – every one of them crucial.

The defeat marked the ninth consecutive championship game where Meath were outscored in the second half.

DERRY: T Mallon; G McKinless, C McKaigue (0-1), K McKaigue; C McFaul, B Rogers, C Mullan; C McAtamney, N Holly; D Heavron, C Bradley (0-1), E Brown (0-1); J Kielt (0-4, three frees), E McGuckin, M Lynch (0-6, three frees).

Subs: N Toner for McGuckin (27 mins), N Loughlin (1-0) for Brown (47 mins), E Bradley for Holly (47 mins), E Lynn (0-1) for Bradley (52 mins), N Forester for Rogers (black card, 61 mins), L McGoldrick for Mullan (63 mins).

MEATH: P O'Rourke; D Tobin, D Keogan, M Burke (0-1); D Smyth, P Harnan (0-1), A Douglas; H Rooney, C O'Brien; G Reilly (0-2), C O'Sullivan (0-2, two frees), B McMahon; D Lenihan, S Lavin, M Newman (1-4, three frees)

Subs: E Wallace for McMahon (36 mins), D McDonagh for Newman (51 mins), A Tormey (0-1, one free) for Lenihan (60 mins), S Tobin for Keogan (63 mins).

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon)