Leinster SFC: late goal earns 13-man Carlow shock draw
10 June 2012
Carlow's Conor Lawlor keeps the
ball away from Joe Sheridan (Meath) during the drawn Leinster SFC quarter-final
in Tullamore ©INPHO/Cathal NoonanCarlow 1-12
JJ Smith's injury-time goal earned 13-man Carlow a dramatic draw with 14-man Meath at O'Connor Park.
A replay was no more than Luke Dempsey's massive underdogs deserved after they had dominated much of the second half, only to be let down by poor decision-making and shot selection. This shock result will feel like a defeat for Meath and their embattled manager Seamus McEnaney who, despite playing poorly, looked to have done enough until Smith rattled the net in the third minute of injury-time after goalkeeper David Gallagher had spilled substitute Keith Jackson's initial shot.
Smith's goal capped an incident-packed finish to the game which saw Carlow lose both Paul Reid and substitute Derek Hayden to straight red cards. Meath also failed to finish the game with their full complement of players after midfielder Conor Gillespie was dismissed on a second yellow card 15 minutes from the end.
The Royals will still be expected to qualify for a Leinster semi-final against either Kildare or Offaly, but this performance against Division 4 opponents only serves to crank up the pressure on them.
Despite only arriving at O'Connor Park about 10 minutes before the throw-in after a warm-up session at nearby Durrow had run late, Meath were first on the scoreboard thanks to a Cian Ward free after four minutes. Paul Reid opened Carlow's account five minutes later before Ward replied with his second free.
Brian Murphy levelled for a second time with the first of his three first half points, but Meath replied with two points in succession from Graham Reilly and half back Donnacha Tobin, who fisted over.
Daniel St. Ledger drove over a 50-metre free after Brendan Murphy was fouled to leave the minimum between the sides after 17 minutes. Brian Farrell restored Meath's two-point lead with a right-footed effort after Cian Ward had supplied the pass and then, in the 22nd minute, Ward sent a rasping shot to the net after collecting a long ball over the top by Joe Sheridan.
The big full forward had drifted out around the middle after getting little change out of Carlow's U21 full back Conor Lawlor all afternoon, and brilliantly picked out Ward who had peeled away from his marker Tony Bolger and finished with aplomb.
Trailing by 0-3 to 1-5, the signs looked ominous for Carlow, but to their credit, they produced a tremendous response which yielded four unanswered points. Meath hit the woodwork twice before Brendan Murphy set up his brother Brian for the Barrowsiders' fourth point.
Another Rathvilly man, JJ Smith, converted a free and St. Ledger was unlucky not to raise another white flag when his long-range free narrowly failed to clear the Meath crossbar.
The momentum remained with Carlow, however, as the impressive Brian Murphy kicked their sixth point. Referee Barry Cassidy then dished out three yellow cards in quick succession to Carlow's Conor Lawlor and Eoin Ruth, and Meath's Mickey Burke. In the final minute of normal-time, Smith made it a one-point game after Ruth had been brought down in front of goal.
Then, in injury-time, Brendan Murphy caught a Cian Ward free in his own square, only to spill possession, and Brian Farrell was on hand to register Meath's first score in 16 minutes.
Graham Reilly's second point made it 1-7 to 0-7 in the Royals' favour a minute after the restart. Carlow should have been awarded a free in front of the Meath goal when substitute Derek Hayden had his jersey pulled, but his shot went harmlessly wide after the referee decided to give him the advantage.
Carlow were by now dominating possession, but had to wait 10 minutes for JJ Smith to open their second half account from a free. Smith scored again to leave the minimum in it before Ward replied with a brace of points to make it 1-9 to 0-9 16 minutes into the second half.
The underdogs reduced the arrears again before Conor Gillespie received his marching orders in the 55th minute. The pressure continued to mount on Seamus McEnaney's men when their lead was cut to a point, but Brian Farrell gave them breathing space when he pointed with a goal at his mercy.
JJ Smith replied with a free, but Meath looked to have finally gained the upper hand when Cian Ward fed half back Mickey Burke for a point and Graham Reilly followed up with his third to make it 1-12 to 0-12 with five minutes remaining.
Carlow's challenge looked to have completely evaporated when Reid and Hayden were sent off in the 68th and 70th minutes respectively for striking offences. But they refused to give up the ghost and when Meath 'keeper Gallagher failed to hold Keith Jackson's shot, Smith was on hand to bury the equalising goal.
Meath: D Gallagher; D Keoghan, K Reilly, B Menton; D Tobin (0-1), S McAnarney, M Burke (0-1); C Gillespie, G Reilly (0-3); B Meade, P Gilsenan, A Forde; B Farrell (0-4), J Sheridan, C Ward (1-3, 2fs). Subs: J Queeney for Forde (46 mins), M Collins for Gilsenan (53 mins)
Carlow: T O'Reilly; P Murphy, C Lawlor, B Kavanagh; K Nolan, S Redmond, T Bolger; Brendan Murphy (0-1), D Foley (0-1); Brian Murphy (0-3, 2fs), P Reid (0-1), E Ruth; JJ Smith (1-5, 4fs), S Gannon, D St Ledger (0-1, f). Subs: D Hayden for St Ledger (37 mins), B Lambe for Bolger (54 mins), K Jackson for Foley (62 mins), C Murphy for Brian Murphy (68 mins)
Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).
http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=170882
Preview: Leinster SFC - Carlow v Meath
08 June 2012
Meath's Kevin Reilly with JJ Smith of Carlow during the 2008 Leinster SFC Preliminary Round
Meath supporters will happily recall that that game in Croke Park proved to be the launching pad for an unlikely All-Ireland success later that summer. They will also recall that some pundits had expected Sean Boylan's new-look side to lose to a Carlow team backboned by the great Eire Og side of that period, but the same pundits got it badly wrong as the Royals powered to an emphatic victory.
Not unlike then, expectations aren't particularly high in the Royal County after an ill-fated Allianz League campaign and a far from impressive first round victory over Wicklow. Yet, it would represent a major shock if they don't win with a bit to spare and progress to a semi-final meeting with their old nemesis Kildare.
Despite the best efforts of Luke Dempsey, who is now in his fourth and more than likely final year as manager, Carlow have failed to make any real progress and remain among the minnows of Gaelic football. They possess one of the top midfielders in the country in former Aussie Rules recruit Brendan Murphy, but Thomas Walsh's decision to emigrate has been a huge blow to a county that seems to be putting more emphasis on hurling of late.
Meath are certainly no world-beaters at the moment and the loss of their captain Seamus Kenny to a season-ending cruciate ligament injury has only added to the sense of doom and gloom on Boyneside. They will have former All Star Stephen Bray back after he missed the Wicklow game with a hamstring strain and, with Joe Sheridan, Brian Farrell and Graham Reilly showing up well against the Garden County, they should have too much for a Carlow team that is unlikely to repeat the surprise win they enjoyed over Louth 12 months ago.
Verdict: Meath
Meath - D Gallagher, D Keoghan, K Reilly, B Menton, D Tobin, S McAnarney, M Burke, C Gillespie, B Meade, A Forde, S Bray, G Reilly, B Farrell, J Sheridan, C Ward.
Carlow - T O'Reilly; P Murphy, C Lawlor, B Kavanagh; K Nolan, S Redmond, T Bolger; B Murphy, D Foley; B Murphy, P Reid, E Ruth; JJ Smith, S Gannon, D St Ledger.
Odds: Meath 1/14, Draw 14/1, Carlow 9/1
Match Details: Leinster SFC quarter-final, Tullamore, Sunday 10 June, 2pm
http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=170784
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