Meath 3-09 Monaghan 0-11
Saturday, 21 April 2007 23:33Meath capitalised on a blistering to take a well-deserved victory in the first of tonight's Allianz NFL Division Two semi-final at Croke Park.
Just over 19,000 spectators turned up at Headquarters to watch a double-header which included the top four sides in Divisions 2A and 2B this season.
Niall McLoughlin and Stephen Bray combined to put Joe Sheridan through on goal in the second-minute, and the Seneschalstown clubman beat Monaghan 'keeper Shane Duffy at the second attempt.
A second Meath goal followed, less than a minute later, when Bray beat Duffy from close range, helping the Royals on their way to a 2-04 to 0-02 lead, close to the quarter-hour mark.
Despite some poor shooting from Paul Finlay and Thomas Freeman, two late points from the latter helped Seamus McEneaney's side cut the deficit to 2-04 to 0-05.
Monaghan could have been celebrating their first goal at that stage but Meath stopper Brendan Murphy had done well to parry a drilled shot from Freeman.
Two Brian Farrell points, sandwiching a Finlay effort, nosed Meath further added and a third goal followed to put the result beyond doubt.
Bray was the scorer of it, he finished well past Duffy after a long ball in from Nigel Crawford had caused problems for the Monaghan defence.
Farrell's knock down and a neat interchange between Sheridan and Bray was also key to the build-up.
Meath moved ten points ahead as Peadar Byrne increased his influence.
Monaghan bit back through Stephen Gollogly, Finlay and Paul Meegan and while Gary McQuaid struck a late point, a fine effort from substitute Graham Geraghty had Meath well in control.
The Royals' opponents in the league final will be Roscommon, who beat Cavan 2-13 to 0-14 in tonight's second semi-final.
