By Ger Canning
It was a bit like old times for Meath fans in Croke Park as their team beat Kildare by six points in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Leinster Championship and they did it with fourteen men for the last 14 minutes.
This was an interesting, but far from compelling contest, in which Kildare once again greatly disappointed their followers at Croke Park.
Meath led at the break by 1-04 to 0-05. In fact, Kildare never led at any stage and only twice enjoyed parity. Missing Dermot Earley and Killian Brennan by virtue of crippling injuries, the Lilywhites looked a disjointed combination.
They were far too heavily dependent on Johnny Doyle, who finished with four points. Meath captain Anthony Moyles did a fine man-marking job on Kildare's main threat and without the Allenwood player's usual top-notch contribution, there was no real 'Plan B' in evidence.
Meath's first-half goal was a surprise package. As Kildare's defence was having difficulty keeping the Royals at bay in the 28th minute, full-back Darren Fay snatched the loose ball and drove past Enda Murphy.
Kildare never recovered from that major body-blow. Manager John Crofton made switches for the second half, introducing Ronan Sweeney and Jason Phillips into the attack, but neither player made an impact of note.
All around the park Meath continued to gain the edge in vital areas. The spine of this team is impressive. Darren Fay links the full-back line together with assurance, Moyles is a splendid leader at half-back and they have two competent and towering midfielders in Mark Ward and Nigel Crawford.
The much-maligned forward line has to take the plaudits following this latest victory. Two goals and eleven points is no mean performance. Against that, Kildare had just spirit and willingness to offer by way of resistance. Anthony Rainbow may be 35 years of age but he is still among the best at this level of competition.
Three weeks ago, full-forward Brian Farrell was Meath's hero as they won the Division 2 league title. That day in Cavan, his 2-08 was a huge part of Meath's winning tally against Roscommon.
Today he was held scoreless until well into the second half. He then got his only point at a stage when Meath emphasised their superiority by going into a 1-10 to 0-07 lead.
Shortly after this he was involved in a challenge with Kildare's Eamonn Callaghan which the referee Aidan Mangan from Kerry did not see. It was the linesman who brought the matter to the official's attention. Farrell, who had been on a yellow card, was then shown a red and Meath were numerically penalised.
Any sense of unease which the team's followers were feeling was quickly eased when wing-back Emmet Bolton was deemed guilty of a foot block in the large rectangle.
Up stepped Joe Sheridan to make adequate contact with the ball and send it under the diving body of 'keeper Murphy from the penalty spot.
Even a late goal by Championship debutant Bolton wasn't enough to spoil Meath's day. And the reward for the victors is a 3 July quarter-final date with Dublin.
Meath versus Dublin! Just like old times.
