All-Ireland MFC semi-final/ Roscommon 1-10 Meath 0-9: Bridging a 55-year gap, a well-tuned Roscommon side advanced to the All-Ireland minor football final when packing too much power for a disappointing Meath outfit in the Croke Park curtain-raiser yesterday.
Although the weather and the pitch were ideal, both sides struggled during the first half and gave those spectators who arrived early little to enthuse over. Both missed more than they scored before the break.
Centre forward James McKeague was causing some problems for the Meath defence and after 22 minutes it took a block by full back Stephen Sheppard to keep out a Roscommon goal attempt.
But five minutes later the Connacht champions struck for the goal, from a penalty. McKeague was fouled by Meath captain Paddy Brady, who picked up a yellow card, and Connor Devanney put the ball in the net.
With Donal Shine following up with his second point, Roscommon went in with a 1-3 to 0-3 interval lead, and that advantage was increased soon after the resumption.
Roscommon stepped up a gear and after Ciarán Lynch reduced the deficit, two Paul Garvey points and one each from Fintan Cregg and Shine (free) left the Connacht men well in control.
Roscommon's running off the ball was causing problems for the favourites, and though team captain Brady, Shane O'Rourke and Lynch spearheaded a short Meath revival, they only managed to halve the arrears of six points.
Three points in quick possession - a Brian Sheridan effort followed by a brace from Lynch - raised Meath hopes but they managed to raise only two more flags. Roscommon's record of not having conceded a goal in the championship was in little danger.
Fergal O'Donnell, captain when Roscommon last captured the Connacht senior title, in 2001, has done very well with this side and they emphasised their superiority as points from Cregg, substitute Keith Waldron and McKeague quelled prospects of Meath maintaining their comeback.
Although Seán Keating and Brady, with a late fisted score, completed the losers' total, Meath were flattered to be so close at the final whistle.
All of Roscommon's starting forwards scored, as did substitute Waldron.
ROSCOMMON: M Miley; P Gleeson, M McLoughlin, S Ormsby; P Domican, D Flynn, C Garvey; D Keenan, K Higgins; C Devanney (1-0, pen), J McKeague (0-1), D Shine (0-3, 1 free); P Garvey (0-2), F Cregg (0-2), D O'Gara (0-1). Subs: N Carty for C Garvey (45), K Waldron (0-1) for Higgins (50 mins), C Smith for McKeague (58 mins), A O'Hara for Garvey (62 mins).
MEATH: J Ginnity; G Farrelly, S Sheppard, S Carr; D Donegan, P Brady (0-1), D Dalton; E Reilly, C Finn; C Lynch (0-3), S O'Rourke, G Reilly; A Nestor (0-2), S Keating (0-1), B Sheridan (0-2, 1 free). Subs: S Mallon for Farrelly, C Carry for Donegan (both 42 mins), P Larkin for G Reilly (55 mins), C Clarke for Keating (58 mins).
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
