Meath ... 0-13 Kildare ... 0-12Just as an animal is most dangerous when hunted into a corner, Meath's footballers have a survival instinct that is inbred; something that simply can't be taught. For much of this match, even with a numerical superiority, it appeared as if they were destined for an unheard of third successive defeat in the league.
Yet, with the clock ticking down, and impending defeat making the temperature even colder than the icy grip that enfolded Páirc Tailteann in Navan yesterday, Evan Kelly struck late to fire over his third point and Meath's decisive score to claim his side's first win of the campaign. That it was Kelly that supplied the winning point, and much of the spirit that inspired Meath's revival from the brink, was not only ironic; it rubbed salt into Kildare's wounds.
Kelly had been involved in an altercation with Kildare's defender Brian Lacey in the 41st minute of the match, at which stage the sides were locked together at 0-9 apiece.
Both players raised hands to each other, and both players made contact with each other. Who instigated the matter is irrelevant. However, referee Brendan Gorman - after consulting his two umpires at that end of the pitch - opted to give Lacey a straight red card, and Kelly a yellow card.
To most people watching, it was a poor call. Either both players should have stayed on, or both should have gone. Unquestionably, the dismissal affected Kildare and Kelly proved to be a critical figure thereafter in orchestrating Meath's win.
For Kildare, it was a case of rough justice. For much of the first-half, Meath - who had lost their opening two matches of the league - seemed out to prove a point and, after 15 minutes, had raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead.
Slowly but surely Kildare fought back. Tadgh Fennin was proving something of a nuisance to whomever was entrusted with the task of marking him (and a few were given the job) and Karl Ennis was proving to be a sharpshooter with the eye of somebody chasing silverware in the height of summer.
Although Meath raced into that early lead - with Daithí Regan also showing sharpness, especially with frees - it was Kildare who gradually took a grip on the game. Dermot Earley was dominant around the centre of the field and the Kildare forwards worked with a manic intensity to win possession.
The move in the 26th minute that gave them the lead for the first time in the game typified their approach: a loose ball was won in defence and played upfield where Fennin, Derek McCormack and Ronan Sweeney all added to the move before Aidan McHugh arrived on the scene to kick a lovely point.
By half-time, Kildare's work-rate had reaped dividends and they trotted in leading by 0-9 to 0-6. But Meath came out for the second half with all guns blazing. Within two minutes, Regan, Kelly and substitute Donal Curtis had levelled matters. And then came that incident with Lacey and Kelly.
When Kelly fisted over a point, and Ray Magee added another - only to be immediately substituted - it looked as if it was all over bar the shouting. Not so.
Kildare not only rallied, but Fennin scored their first point of the second-half - in the 55th minute - and then Derek McCormack and John Doyle added further points. It gave Kildare a lead that was to be short-lived.
Curtis got on the end of a move that also involved Trevor Giles and Shane McKeague to kick an equalising point and a minute from time Kelly confirmed his ability to kick crucial scores when firing over the winning point.
MEATH: C Sullivan; T O'Connor, D Fay, N McKeague; P Reynolds, H Traynor, C Reynolds; N Crawford (0-1), J Cullinane; E Kelly (0-3), T Giles, A Kenny; D Regan (0-5, four frees), S McKeague (0-1), R Magee (0-1). Subs: D Curtis (0-2) for Kenny (half-time), T Brosnan for Magee (15 mins), C Murphy for O'Connor (62 mins), D Gallagher for Cullinane (64 mins).
KILDARE: E Murphy; B Lacey, D Hendy, A McLoughlin; E Callaghan, A Rainbow, P Mullarkey; D Earley, A McHugh (0-1); K Ennis (0-3), J Doyle (0-4, one free), R Sweeney (0-1); T Rossiter, D McCormack (0-1), T Fennin (0-2, one free). Subs: K Brennan for McHugh (47 mins), E McCormack for Rossiter (55 mins).
Referee: Brendan Gorman (Armagh).
