Optimistic start to national league campaign by Mayo hurlers
MAYO and Meath produced a magnificent game of hurling when they clashed in the opening round of the National League Division 2A which was played in the Adrian Freeman Memorial Park, Tooreen.
The result was 0-17 apiece.
It was a historic day for the Tooreen GAA Club as it was their first in their long tradition of hurling to hold a major inter-county senior hurling game.
As a result of this special occasion this game attracted a huge crowd and everyone was treated to a magnificent and very exciting game throughout. Both teams gave it their all and both sides must be credited for producing such a fine game in the month of January.
Playing with the aid of the slight breeze Meath started the better and led by 0-7 to 0-3 after 16 minutes with Mayo's opening three points coming from Shane Boland (two) and a cracking opening score from Cathal Freeman.
In the final 15 minutes Mayo regrouped where Boland fired over four points, two from frees. But in injury time Meath added two more points from Joe Keena and Ó Hanrahen to give them a three-point at the interval, 0-11 to 0-8.
Within three minutes of the resumption Meath had extended their lead to five points after Ó Hanrahen and Damien Healy picked off fine scores.
Although Sean Regan replied with a delightful point from play 60 seconds later, the Mayo deficit had extended to six points by the 44th minute after Meath's Alan Douglas and Kevin Keena found the range.
It wasn't looking very good for Mayo at this stage but they kept battling away. After Boland narrowed the gap with a pointed free they had a great chance of a goal when Brian Morley after winning a long delivery had is shot some how saved on the line by the Meath goalkeeper Shane McGann. Yet, another pointed free by Boland narrowed the gap to four points seconds later.
The gap between the two sides was still four after Sean Kenny and Eamon Ó Donnchadha exchanged points with 18 minutes remaining.
In those final 18 minutes it was Mayo who regained control and narrowed the gap to the minimum after two points from Boland, a free a brilliant score from play, and one from a Sean Kenny '65.
Although Ó Hanrahen replied with a point for the visitors it was Mayo who finished the stronger and after substitute Eamon Delaney reduced the deficit to one again, it was midfielder Cathal Freeman who landed the equaliser when he scored the point of the day after he divided the posts from inside his own half.
In stoppage time Mayo had one or two good chances to get the winner but it never came and they had to settle for a share of the spoils. On true reflection one would have to say a draw was a fair result.
Mayo: S. Leneghan, C. Murray, C. Daly, S. Mulroy, C. Scahill, S. Coyne, D. Kenny, B. Hunt, C. Freeman (0-2), S. Regan (0-2), T. Sweeney, A. Phillips, S. Boland (0-10, 6f) B. Morley, S. Kenny (0-2).
Subs used: L. Hurley, E. Delaney (0-1), D. Huane, C. Henry, C. Higgins, J. Gallagher.
Meath: S. McGann, G. Murphy, S. Brennan, S. Morris, K. Keoghan, S. Whitty, J. Kelly, J. Keena (0-1), S. Quigley (0-1), D. Healy (0-1), P. O' Hanrahan (0-7), D. Kelly (0-2), A. Douglas (0-2), S. Kelly, K. Keena (0-2).
Subs: E. Ó Donnchadha (0-1), J. Regan, M. Healy.