Meath drub Kildare, gain Leinster final

By Mark Jones

Meath 1-16, Kildare 1-11

They’re back, or to rob a line from somewhere, they’ve never gone away. In the build-up to last Sunday’s Leinster football championship semifinal at Croke Park there was dire talk of Meath’s decline, their injury problems, the absence of John McDermott and even their lack of hunger for the battle. It’s probably now best to ask Kildare if the rumors were true.

Because if 45,000 spectators at Croke Park didn’t necessarily witness a vintage Meath performance with the traditional doggedness, physical perseverance and never-say-die spirit, they saw something pretty close. Sean Boylan’s men began with a green and gold rush as attackers Ollie Murphy and Graham Geraghty pilfered points at will, and though a barren spell followed just after the interval, in the crucial final push, Kildare were comprehensively outscored by 1-6 to 1-0.

This was Meath looking as if another Leinster title would do just fine, thank you. The July 15 decider against Dublin has already been blocked off in thousands of diaries, and if Murphy, Geraghty, Trevor Giles, Nigel Crawford and Darren Fay can improve another 10 percent on this display, then there won’t be too many neutrals backing Dublin.

"Yes, we had a lot of questions to answer," admitted Boylan in his 19th successive championship season, "but given the way they played out the last 15 minutes, you can appreciate that there’s still life in the old dog. Some of the lads out there were part of the 1994 league winning team and there has been a big physical and emotional drain since then. After the ’99 All Ireland final, they were just sick and tired of football, so coming back like this is very satisfactory."

As for Kildare, they had the lead and some momentum in the 10th minute of the second half, when a Padraig Brennan point made it 0-11 to 0-10. But several important chances were missed and without the stabilizing presence of Glen Ryan, Anthony Rainbow and Willie McCreery, Kildare crumbled once Meath upped the pace again.

"We gave a reasonable performance, but you can’t afford to be without that caliber of player," philosophised manager Mick O’Dwyer. "They’ve been the engine room of our team for the last three years, so I’ve no complaints. Meath were the better side and they’ll be hard to beat in the championship, I can tell you."

That was certainly the impression created by the opening 20 minutes as Meath set about the Kildare defense. After Niall Buckley, recently returned from Chicago, had hit the first point for the losers, Murphy and Geraghty got to work and both were to finish the match with 0-4 from play. But coming up to the changeover, the highly impressive Crawford and Nigel Nestor lost their grip temporarily on midfield and suddenly there was a decent supply of ball for the Kildare forwards.

They responded with three points to trail by only one at halftime, and there were three more all courtesy of Brennan at the start of the second half. For a moment, it seemed as if Kildare were in business. There was a brief flare-up in the 47th minute when Paddy Reynolds struck Ken Doyle and Doyle retaliated. Reynolds was given a straight red card by referee Brendan Gorman, and Doyle was also sent off for a second yellow.

In truth, the dismissals didn’t affect the outcome as already Meath were starting to motor again. A quick Giles free found Richie Kealy in space and when he was fouled by goalkeeper Christy Byrne, Giles stepped up to stroke a perfect penalty into the bottom corner. Donal Curtis and Murphy added points to increase the lead to six, and although Kildare responded with a fisted goal by substitute Killian Brennan, a fifth Giles free and a swashbuckling Evan Kelly point finished the job.

Dublin next in that final to savor, while Kildare take on Donegal in the All-Ireland qualifier series at Newbridge on Saturday.

Cavan 0-13, Monaghan 0-11

It was the contest that might have been. Gaelic football has had its share of criticism, and this scramble of a game will only swell the ranks of the disgruntled. It was an Ulster football semifinal on a clammy afternoon in Clones that promised so much and delivered so little. Cavan qualified for their first provincial decider since 1997 — that is about the best that can be said.

Their opponents won’t be making any patronizing noises in advance. However, a blindfolded Tyrone should still be good enough. A watching Art McRory and Eugene McKenna will know that Cavan might not shoot 16 wides on July 8, but then they hit an estimated 18 in the earlier round against Down, so nothing appears to have changed.

In truth, Monaghan deserved a draw out of this drab encounter. They proved that their wvictory over Fermanagh had been no fluke and they were pressing at the finish when James McElroy was sent off for a second yellow card offense and Dermot McCabe was able to settle the issue with a free from 40 yards.

Although Cavan fired over six unanswered points during the first half, with McElroy dominating the middle of the pitch, Monaghan always threatened. But Ronan Ronaghan blasted a goal chance wide, the losers were also guilty of nine missed point opportunities as Cavan led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

"Yes, we were bad out there," admitted Cavan manager Val Andrews. "We kicked from impossible positions and lacked composure and maybe we were nervous because it was a semifinal."

Meanwhile, center-back Anthony Forde, who was one of the winners better performers, was pulling no punches with regard to the upcoming final.

"If we play like that against Tyrone, we’ll be wiped out," he offered.

So as Cavan wasted possession, Monaghan were able to get back in the hunt, and with early second-half scores by Thomas Freeman (2), Peter Duffy and Gary Meehan, they were soon two points ahead. Freeman then had marvelous goal opportunity, but Aaron Donohue made a crucial save and in that instant, there was a sense that Monaghan had missed their chance. They now meet Armagh in the qualifier series on Saturday.

Cork 2-11, Clare 1-10

The old order returns in Munster. Cork are through to meet All-Ireland champions Kerry in the provincial football decider, but they won’t be taking too much consolation from last Sunday’s error-strewn victory at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Billed initially as a mismatch, Clare made a fight of it with the winners’ last two scores coming in injury time.

In fact, when substitute Colin Corkery drove a penalty wide in the 57th minute, there was every chance of a major upset. At that stage, Clare only trailed by two points, but they were unable to close the deal and Corkery redeemed himself with a couple of late frees that saw his team stumble through.

Selector Paddy Sheahan, deputizing for manager Larry Tompkins, whose mother had died before the game, reckoned the Cork players might have been affected by complacency among supporters. "We were lucky enough to escape," said Sheahan, "and if we’re to stand any chance against Kerry, a massive improvement will be needed."

With Joe Kavanagh, Philip Clifford and Mark O’Sullivan squandering far too many chances, Cork started slowly, but when Brendan Ger O’Sullivan slotted a well-worked goal, the balance appeared to shift. However, Clare responded sharply when Colm Mullen goaled following a high ball by David Russell and it was level at 1-5 = at the break.

With Clare now on top, Fionan Murray stole in for Cork’s second goal early in the second half. "Cork’s two goals came at the wrong time," said Clare manager Pat Begley. "They were sucker punches because in each instance we had them on the run." Corkery’s missed penalty gave Clare further hope, but both Joe Considine and Mullen had to go off injured and the comeback never truly materialized. Clare now take on Laois in the qualifier series.