Meath 2-21 Carlow 1-9:UNDERDOGS CARLOW lacked the bite of the drawn encounter as they tamely succumbed to dominant Meath in a one-sided Leinster SFC quarter-final replay at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday evening.
The hot favourites overcame an uncertain opening quarter at the end of which they trailed by 0-3 to 0-4 to establish a firm grip on the exchanges and had a last four place safely secured when 10 points to the good at the break.
Peadar Byrne, who had only just returned to the Royals’ ranks, made a major impact after joining the action midway through the first half, the Ballinlough clubman firing both of his side’s goals.
Carlow manager Luke Dempsey bemoaned his squad being affected by injuries and suspensions with talented midfielder Brendan Murphy unable to exert the same influence as six days earlier.
The former Aussie Rules player was a doubtful starter for most of the week but still Carlow managed to hold their own for most of the opening period and were ahead on three occasions.
An injury to Brian Meade, who had shown impressive form in Meath’s two previous championship outings, afforded the formerly out of favour Byrne the opportunity to prove his worth.
Meath had begun to win more of the ball around centrefield and find their scoring touch to go into a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage when Byrne struck for the first goal, taking a pass from Joe Sheridan and finishing past Carlow goalkeeper Trevor O’Reilly on 28 minutes.
Meath manager Séamus McEnaney had reason to be pleased with the statistic that nine of his players got on target but it will be much more difficult repeating the feat against stronger opposition.
However, Joe Sheridan, whose return from the States caused such a ripple a few weeks ago, drew a blank while Cian Ward’s only score was struck from a 45 in the first half. McEnaney has not been slow to praise the efforts of the younger players and two of them, debutant Damien Carroll and Alan Forde, both struck a point in each half.
The impressive scoring of Brian Farrell has been one of the main talking points of Meath’s 2012 championship campaign to date and the accurate corner-forward led the victory charge with eight points, five from frees, in the latest outing.
With Graham Reilly sending over four points from play, Meath supporters were already looking ahead to the Leinster semi-final on July 1st when leading by 1-11 to 0-4 at the break.
After the bright beginning, Carlow went over half-an-hour before JJ Smith, who grabbed the late leveller in the drawn tie, put over their sixth point from a free. But it was mission impossible for the Barrowsiders as Meath went on to build up an impressive total.
Substitute Keith Jackson’s well-taken goal from an acute angle 19 minutes after the restart reduced the deficit to nine points but did not cause any anxiety in Meath ranks as Farrell promptly replied with a point from play.
Although hopes of reaching the Leinster semi-finals for the second successive year were long over, Carlow kept battling and David Gallagher did well to tip shots by Smith and Brendan Murphy over the bar.
Byrne netted his second goal when taking advantage of a poor kick-out from O’Reilly and shooting past him to leave the board reading 2-19 to 1-8 with 67 minutes gone.
With substitute Jamie Queeney adding two late points the margin was 15 at the finish. It won’t be so easy the next day.
MEATH: D Gallagher; D Keogan, K Reilly, M Burke,; D Tobin, S McAnarney, B Menton (0-1); C Gillespie (0-1), G Reilly (0-4); B Meade, D Carroll (0-2), A Forde (0-2); B Farrell (0-8, 0-5 frees), J Sheridan, C Ward (0-1, 45). Subs: P Byrne (2-0) for Meade (18 mins), E Harrington for K Reilly (59 mins), J Queeney (0-2) for G Reilly (61 mins), C O’Connor for Tobin (65 mins), M Collins for Ward (66 mins). Yellow cards: B Menton (44 mins), C O’Connor (65 mins), P Byrne (69 mins).
CARLOW: T O’Reilly; T Murphy, C Lawlor, B Kavanagh; K Nolan (0-1), S Redmond, T Bolger; Brendan Murphy (0-1, free), D Foley (0-1); Brian Murphy (0-1, free), C Murphy, E Ruth; JJ Smith (0-5, 0-3 frees), S Gannon, C Walsh. Subs: B Lambe for Nolan, K Jackson (1-0) for C Murphy (both 43 mins), BJ Molloy for P Murphy (53 mins), L Sheppard for Foley (60 mins), P McElligott for Bolger (66 mins). Yellow cards: S Gannon (17 mins), P Murphy (35 mins).
Referee: D Fahy (Longford).
Att: 5,070
