Meath make hard work of it

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER-FINALS/Meath 2-9 Tipperary 0-10:  MEATH MANAGER Pat Coyle is demanding a vast improvement from his Leinster…

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER-FINALS/Meath 2-9 Tipperary 0-10: MEATH MANAGER Pat Coyle is demanding a vast improvement from his Leinster champions ahead of a semi-final against Tyrone on August 31st.

Coyle's charges flattered to deceive in a disappointing, free-ridden quarter-final, before securing victory over Tipperary in Portlaoise on Saturday.

A penalty converted by Michael Newman in the first minute was followed by Andrew Tormey's 21st-minute goal as Meath led by 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time.

Coyle insisted: "It would be worse if we came out here today and won by a cricket score. That wouldn't be good for anybody heading into the semi-final. I'm looking forward to a lash at Tyrone and we're not afraid of anybody at this stage. I think our lads sat back when they knew they had the beating of Tipp and that's wrong thinking because Tipp are a good side and when they ran at us, they kicked some nice points."

READ MORE

MEATH: P Curran; S O'Brien, C Lenehan, S Curran; E Nulty, T Johnson, D Tobin; J Owens, D Carroll (0-1); D Smyth (0-2), M Newman (1-2, 1-0 pen, one free), M Collins; J Regan (0-1), A Tormey (1-0), M Battersby (0-2, one free). Subs: P Gilsenan (0-1) for Regan (45 mins), S Dalton for Collins (56 mins), B McGrane for O'Brien (56 mins), D Ryan for Carroll (60 mins).

TIPPERARY: J English, E Fitzpatrick, K O'Riordan, S Russell; D Lowry (0-2), R Kiely, C Walsh; E Hendrick, A Moloney (0-1); T Hanley, G Ryan, D McGrath; C Sweeney (0-4, three frees), L Treacy, M O'Dwyer (0-2, frees). Subs: P McEvoy for Treacy (halt-time), P Horan for Hendrick (half-time), G Mulhair (0-1) for Ryan (46 mins), D Heffernan for Russell (46 mins), B O'Hara for McGrath (55 mins).

Referee: E O'Grady (Leitrim).