Stirring Mayo comeback not enough

National Hurling League – Round 5 

Meath 0-20 

Mayo 1-12 

In Adrian Feeeman Park, Tooreen 

A valiant fightback by Mayo in the second half was ultimately in vain as Meath claimed a valuable five-point win at Adrian Freeman Park last Saturday afternoon.

The defeat, coupled with London defeating Derry at the weekend, sees Mayo remain bottom of the table without a win and will need a victory against either Kerry this Saturday or Westmeath in the final game to avoid relegation, and score difference may come into play.

The Royal County had the strong wind in the first half, and they used it to devastating effect to open up a thirteen-point gap at the break, although they should have been much further in front but for a dozen wides also.

It was Mayo who actually went in front, as Moytura’s John Heraty picked off the opening score from a tight angle.

That would prove to be a false dawn for Ray Larkin’s men as Meath would hit the next five without reply through Mark Leavy (two), Sean Doyle, Tom Shine (free) and Mikey Cole to lead 0-5 to 0-1 with 12 minutes played.

The free-taking expertise of Meath wing-forward Tom Shine would be a major factor in the first half as he sent over another two placed balls, and a ’65, coupled with Mikey Cole’s second score form play to stretch the Leinster’s side lead to eight after 21 minutes.

Cormac Phillips stopped the rot for Mayo with his first free a minute later, but Meath were in no mood to relent. Eoin Donegan’s boomer on 24 minutes got a rapturous reception from the travelling support who braved the inclement weather in Tooreen as Meath took a 0-16 to 0-3 lead into half-time.

Now with the wind at their backs, Mayo needed a quick start to the second half and they got it thanks to a pair of frees by Cormac Phillips, a point from Eoin Delaney and a great effort by Shane O’Brien on 46 minutes.

Mayo were slowly reeling them in, and Delaney and substitute Shane Boland (two frees) shortened the gap further but a wonderful score by Tom Shine against breeze brought the deficit back to eight, 0-19 to 0-11, and the gap could have been shorter had Corey Scahill’s piledriver went under the crossbar instead of inches over.

It was all Mayo at this stage coming down the home stretch. Fionn Delaney came off the bench with a vital score before Sean Kenny, making his first appearance for Mayo this season, fired home a penalty with a minute of normal time remaining.

But Mayo’s hearts were broken in additional time as Tom Shine’s sent over a free to put Meath in a great position to reach a league final, while Mayo are hovering above the trapdoor.

Scorers – Mayo: Sean Kenny 1-0 pen, Cormac Phillips and Shane Boland 0-3 each, Eoin Delaney 0-2, John Heraty, Corey Scahill, Fionn Delaney and Shane O’Brien 0-1 each.

Meath: Tom Shine 0-9 (1 ’65, 6f), Mark Leavy 0-4, Mikey Cole 0-3, Daire Shine, Eoin Donegan, Lorcan Byrne and Sean Doyle 0-1 each.

Mayo: Bobby Douglas; Michael Gallagher, Oisin Ivers, Oisin Greally; Shane O’Brien, David Kenny, Conor Murray; John Heraty, Daniel Huane; Ryan Duffy, Cormac Phillips, Eoin Delaney; Corey Scahill, Paudie Murphy, Colm Enright. Subs used: Shane Boland (for Enright 24), Padraic Mooney (for Murray 26), Sean Kenny (for O’Brien 56), Fionn Delaney (for Gallagher 59), David Delaney (for Scahill 60+2).

Meath: Gavin King; Jarlath Ennis, Sean Geraghty, Anthony Healy; Noah Conroy, Daire Shine, Simon Ennis; Eoin Donegan, Lorcan O’Connor; Darren O’Higgins, Mark Leavy, Tom Shine; Mikey Cole, Lorcan Byrne, Sean Doyle. Subs used: Fergal Flynn (for Donergan 39), Cathal Barron (for Doyle 48), Damien Healy (for O’Higgins 58), Darragh Heffernan (for Conroy 60), Joey Coyle (for O’Connor 60+2).

REF: Alan Tierney (Tipperary).