Monaghan defeat Meath in exciting Division 3 final

Allianz Football League Division 3 Final:
Monaghan 2-16 Meath 3-8

Kieran Hughes’ late goal sealed victory for Monaghan at Croke Park on Saturday night, as they defeated Meath in a very exciting and entertaining Allianz Football League Division 3 final.

Monaghan led by four following Conor McManus’ point in the 67th minute, but Stephen Bray’s goal for Meath seconds later looked like it might set off a typically dramatic Meath comeback.

But Monaghan went up the field straightaway and found the net through Kieran Hughes, finally ending the Royals’ resistance.

A lively first half had ended with Monaghan leading by four points, 1-9 to 1-5. However, their lead probably should have been more, given the amount of possession and chances they had in the opening period.

They started brilliantly, with Conor McManus, Christopher McGuinness, Kieran Hughes and Eoin Duffy all firing over to leave them 0-4 to 0-0 ahead with just seven minutes played. Meath eventually got on the scoresheet through Paddy Gilsenan, but Monaghan broke through for the opening goal on 11 minutes.

Eoin Duffy took his chance brilliantly when it came to him, finishing a sweeping move with precision into the top left corner of the net as he cut in off the right. That made it 1-5 to 0-1, but Meath immediately rescued what could have turned into a fatal situation for them by responding immediately with a goal of their own.

It came from Mickey Newman, who finished coolly past Rory Beggan after catching a high ball from Eamonn Wallace. That made it 1-5 to 1-1, and the gap remained four at half-time as the sides kicked four more points each before the interval.

Monaghan moved six clear following two absolutely wonderful scores from the gifted McManus, but Meath kept in touch with scores from Bryan Menton, Wallace and Stephen Bray. Monaghan edged clear again with points from McManus (free) and Lennon, before Ciarán Lenehan got the final score of the half for Meath.

It didn’t take Meath long to restore parity after the restart. Lenehan picked up where he left off by kicking a point straight from the throw-in, and then his fellow wing-back Davy Dalton marauded up the field and struck a wonderful goal to bring the sides level.

Dalton stormed at goal, running a direct line from the midfield area, bearing down on goal despite a number of Monaghan defenders racing back with him, and smashing into the top right hand corner of the net. That made it 2-6 to 1-9 with 40 minutes played.

The second half lacked the fluency of the first, and the play was characterised by bad wides and many misplaced passes. However, Monaghan gradually reasserted themselves after Meath’s comeback and Malachy O’Rourke’s side led by two with 15 minutes to go following points from Eoin Duffy and Finlay.

Duffy’s point, which put them ahead, was a joy to behold. The half-forward clipped it just over the bar from a very tight angle on the left hand side of the pitch, kicking into the Canal End side. He fisted over his third point of the game on 60 minutes, to add to his first half goal, and Monaghan led by three and were in command.

When McManus fizzed one over the bar with just three minutes left, it looked like Monaghan were cruising to the victory, as they led by four. However, Bray’s goal, coming about when the full-forward rounded Beggan and smashed to the net after a long ball broke to him, brought Meath within one and set up a thrilling finale.

However, Monaghan carved out a goal chance immediately after a quick break up the field, and although Hughes’ initial shot was blocked, he made no mistake when the ball came back to him, smashing high to the roof of the net to wrap up the win.

Scorers for Meath: M Newman 1-2 (1f), S Bray 1-1, D Dalton 1-0, C Lenehan 0-2, P Gilsenan 0-1, B Menton 0-1, E Wallace 0-1

Scorers for Monaghan: E Duffy 1-3, C McManus 0-5 (1f), K Hughes 1-1, P Finlay 0-3 (2f), O Lennon 0-2, C McGuinness 0-1, D Hughes 0-1.

Meath: P O’Rourke; E Harrington, B Menton, C Young, C Lenehan, K Reilly, D Dalton; B Meade, C Gillespie; P Gilsenan, G Reilly, P Byrne; E Wallace, S Bray, M Newman.

Subs: D Larkin for P Gilsenan (28), A Tormey for G Reilly (54), S Kenny for P Byrne (54), B Dillon for D Dalton (56), B Farrell for S Bray (67).

Monaghan: R Beggan; K Duffy, D Wylie, F Kelly; D Hughes, N McAdam, C Walshe; O Lennon, D Clerkin; P Finlay, K Hughes, O Duffy; C McGuinness, C McManus, D Malone.

Subs: S Gollogly for D Malone (30), D Mone for D Clerkin (43), P Donaghy for C McGuinness (53), V Corey for D Wylie (56)

Referee: Pádraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)