A late flurry of scores from Meath inflict a fourth successive defeat on Kildare in a hard worked three-point victory in Navan.
Meath had much the better of the play in the first half but crucially only led by one at the break.
Their direct running and pace caused the Kildare defence all sorts of problems early on with Costello and Frayne grateful for the scoreable free's from the fouls. Two first half free's from Frayne and two from goalkeeper Sean Brennan helped Meath to a one-point lead at the break.
Kildare were being reduced to long range efforts throughout the half as a result of Meath’s tight defending and confidence in the midfield area. Ben McCormack’s three first-half scores keeping Kildare within touching distance on the scoreboard at least.
Dunboyne man Ronan Jones showed hugely impressive leadership all afternoon for the Royals and was the launchpad for much of their attacking play throughout.
A black card for Darragh Campion saw Meath reduced to fourteen for ten minutes with Kildare taking full advantage of the numerical advantage to take control of the game for the first time in Navan.
The restart was much improved for Kildare as they bettered Meath all over the pitch for large parts of the second half but they will rue some poor wides at a time when they had taken the lead for the first time in the game.
Meath, to their credit, dug in and through Ronan Jones and Donal Keoghan’s exemplary leadership displayed a real character and grit in their play to push on and win in the end by three points much to the delight of the home crowd.
Eoghan Frayne settled any early nerves for the young Meath side with the first score of the game inside eighteen seconds. After a blistering opening five minutes the pace of the game really began to drop with both sides probing each other patiently as they looked to take control early on.
Meath lost Campion to a black card on the half hour mark with a lazy tackle on McCormack, who would go on to be replaced by Shane Farrell at the break, inside his own half.
A quick second half free from Kevin Feely saw Kildare level for the first time since the eight minute with the momentum continuing to swing the way of the visitors. Their play was much better as the second half progressed as they hunted in packs off the ball and upped the ante noticeably in terms of hunger, intensity and most importantly on the scoreboard.
With twenty minutes remaining they took the lead for the first time in the game courtesy of Eoin Doyle who fisted the air in delight as the umpire’s flag was raised.
But Kildare couldn't push home their advantage as wides from Alex Beirne, Daniel Flynn and Paddy Woodgate left Meath rightly off the hook with the game entering the closing stages.
And Meath punished them with the game entering the final six minutes as successive points from Cathal Hickey, Ruairi Kinsella, as well as a late free from Matthew Costello, swung the game back in the Royals' favour.
Substitute Aaron Lynch put the icing on the cake for Meath with the final score as Kildare fell to a fourth successive defeat which leaves them rooted to the bottom of Division 2.
The result gives Meath their second successive home win in seven days as they move onto five points in this year’s Division Two league table.
Meath: Sean Brennan (0-2, 1f, 1 45); Donal Keogan, Adam O’Neill, Brian O’Halloran; Ciaran Caufield, Darragh Campion (0-1), Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones (0-1), Cian McBride; Daithi McGowan, Eoghan Frayne (0-3, 1f, 1AM), Jack O’Connor; Matthew Costello (0-2, 1f), Cathal Hickey (0-1)
Subs: Danny Dixon for Cian McBride h/t, Ruairi Kinsella (0-1) for Jack O’Connor 54, Aaron Lynch (0-1) for Daithi McGowan 56, Michael Murphy for Sean Coffey 67, Adam McDonnell for Eoghan Frayne 70
Kildare: Mark Donnellan (0-1, 1f); Ryan Houlihan, Mick O’Grady, Eoin Doyle (0-1); Jack Sargent, Kevin Flynn, Paddy McDermott; Aaron Masterson, Ryan Burke; Barry Kelly, Ben McCormack (0-3), Alex Beirne (0-1); Darragh Kirwan, Kevin Feely (0-2, 2f), Daniel Flynn
Subs: Niall Kelly (0-1) for Darragh Kirwan 15, Shane Farrell for Ben McCormack h/t, Paddy Woodgate for Barry Kelly 44, Shea Ryan for Eoin Doyle 64
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
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