February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Meath 5-10
Brooklyn 0-7
Such largesse against a team of Meath’s caliber was fatal as Shane McInerney punished two errant passes with goals. Those two three-pointers staked Meath to a 3-5 to 0-3 halftime lead.
That’s a big hill to climb, but Brooklyn gave it a go at the start of the second half. Mike McCorley rattled over a fine point for Brooklyn just seconds after the throw-in. Bobby Murphy stroked three straight frees over the bar for Brooklyn, while Meath could only counter with a single free from Shane McInerney.
Meath still led by a comfortable 3-6 to 0-7 but Brooklyn were at least showing some signs of life. Then at 8 minutes Meath, in the person of Sean Og Travers, pulled the plug. Travers showed great speed as he raced through the middle of the Brooklyn defense. He lost the handle on his solo but kept his cool and rifled a great soccer-style goal that extinguished Brooklyn’s final hope. The rest of the match was all one-way traffic as both teams emptied their benches, resting their starters on a hot afternoon. Travers added another goal and Brooklyn never scored again.
Meath Manager David Gallagher has assembled a top-notch squad and is running a disciplined ship. Talented players such as Jamie Shaw, Cathal Loughnane, and Shane McInerney are a great leg up in the Junior division, but Meath clearly come to the pitch prepared to produce for the full 60 minutes. It will take some effort to keep the Junior A Cup from their grasp this season.
Man of the Match: Shane McInerney.
Meath: Chris Clarke, Paddy Melligan, Kevin Devine, Ed Travers, David Dunne, Jamie Shaw, Seamus deBruin, Cathal Loughane (0-1), John Smith, Sean Og Travers (2-0), Shane McInerney (2-3, 3 frees), Peter Mullen, Barry Newman (0-1), Paddy O’Brien (1-0), Brian Newman (0-2). Subs: Mike Rennicks, Eoghan Lougnane, Sean Maher (0-2), Andy O’Grady (0-1).
Brooklyn: Brian McGonagle, Peter Stevenson, Jamie Lally, Cormac Bryce, Sean Healy, Enda Lally, Donacha O’Leary, Mike McGill (0-2, 1 free, 1 50), Noel Regan, Mike McCorley (0-1), Mike Lawlor, Conor Butler, Bobby Murphy (0-4, all frees), Joe Ryan, Declan McAteer.