Derry defeat Meath Sun 18 march 2012

Derry defeat Meath Sun 18 march 2012
Derry 0-13     Meath 0-9
A determined Derry condemned Meath to their third straight defeat at Pairc Tailteann.

The Oak Leafers outscored the hosts by 0-6 to 0-3 in the second half to ease their relegation worries and leave the home support stunned into silence. Touted as promotion contenders after beating Monaghan and Westmeath into their opening two games, the Royals now find themselves in the relegation mire and will need to show a vast improvement in their remaining games against Louth and Tyrone if they are to avoid the drop.
They will also rue 15 wides - eight in the first half and seven in the second - compared to Derry's seven.
Meath, who rarely lose in Navan, led by 0-5 to 0-4 after 20 minutes thanks to three points from Graham Reilly and two Stephen Bray frees, with Enda Lynn and Paddy Bradley replying with two points each for the visitors. Bradley and Cian Ward exchanged scores before points from Brian McCallion and Blaine Gormley ('45) gave Derry a slender half-time lead.
Indeed, Meath had goalkeeper David Gallagher to thank for not being further in arrears when he made a point-blank save to deny Sean Leo McGoldrick two minutes from the short whistle.
Another Stephen Bray free levelled on the restart before Derry opened up a three-point lead courtesy of two Conleth Gilligan frees and a second Gormley '45. The visitors were leading 0-12 to 0-8 when Donnacha Tobin blasted over with a goal at his mercy. That proved to be the Royals' only score from play in a dismal second half showing as Derry held on for the win.

Derry - B Giles; B McCallion (0-1), C McKaigue, A McAlynn; C Kielt (0-1), M Craig, S L McGoldrick; M Friel, PJ McCloskey; Patsy Bradley (0-1), C Gilligan (0-2), B Gormley (0-2); E Lynn (0-2), Paddy Bradley (0-4), C O'Boyle. Subs: E Scullion for McCallion, N Forester for Gilligan, O Browne for Friel.

Meath - D Gallagher; M Burke, K Reilly, C O'Connor; C King, B Menton, G Reilly (0-1); T Walsh, M Ward; D Tobin, S Bray (0-5), S Kenny (0-1); P Gilsenan, C Ward (0-2), S McAnarney. Subs: G O'Brien for O'Connor, A Forde for King, C Gillespie for Gilsenan, B Farrell (0-1) for C Ward.

Referee - P Hughes.
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