Aontroim v An Mhí

[ONeill]

Dandered down to a cold Casement today to see the Royals do battle with the Glensmen under the excruciatingly bright lights. twas like being interrogated in Castlereagh again. A fair crowd were in attendance with conditions extremely slippery although the pitch held up well. Antrim lined out nothing like the programme claimed the lying bastards. McGreevey in goals was replaced by a young Lamh Dhearg fellow with squinting eyes. The programme had Lynch-Brady-McGoldrick as full backs. In reality it was Paul Doherty (10) who marked Brian Farrell, Niall Ward (23) on Cian Ward and Colin Brady on Joe Sheridan. Antrim half back Sean McVeigh played most of the game in midfield, man-marking Royal captain Anthony Moyles. Tony Scullion didn't start nor did captain Ciaran Close. Chris Lynch (2) played half back marking Peter Curran but moved to the half forward line for the second have, shadowed by Seamus Kenny. As far as I could tell Meath lined out as selected.

Meath got off the mark early with Cian Ward swinging over a fine effort from play. He seemed to be giving his namesake Niall Ward his fill of it throughout that first half. Cian was first to every ball and fed Farrell the FF at will. Joe Quinn swung over a typical Quinn effort, a huge launch from way out. This was (until I left) as good as it got for Antrim. A minute later Brian Farrell hit a speculative snow-gatherer from way out that the Antrim stand-in keeper (Finucane?) watched all the way...until it was within touching range. Now as I watched it fall I have to admit one of the lights blinded me and it must have been the same for the keeper as he made little attempt to stop it going into the net. A freak goal. 1-1 to 0-1.

Antrim responded well to this setback and a fine sweeping move involving the Saffron enforcer Bell and McGoldrick saw Paddy Cunningham (for me the best player on the field) swing over a classy left-footed point. Cunningham tortured the illustrious Darren Fay and really he should have been hit at every opportunity. Antrim persisted in playing short handpassing around the middle third and were repeatedly turned over. Meath, though, were wasteful up front and worst of all was a soccer-style chip when a 1-on-1 by Peader Byrne hit the side netting. Antrim's Michael McCann hit a wild wide after another fine team effort. This was bettered by three consecutive wides from Meath with have-a-go Farrell the worst offender. Antrim made them pay when Cunningham fielded a long punt to turn, twist and send another beauty over to leave it 1-1 to 0-3 in Meath's favour.

Just as Antrim were attempting to build up a head of steam, indiscipline at the back cost them. First an off-the-ball incident left Farrell with an easy 14 and he followed that up with another placed ball when Bell was the offender. 1-3 to 0-3. The impressive midfielder Kevin Reilly swung over a monster point, a piece of brilliance raising its head out of a cesspit of mediocrity. 1-4 to 0-3. The industrious Seamus Kenny, an attacking and prominent half back, won breaking ball around the middle and fed Cian Ward who converted. 1-5 to 0-3. On walked Graham Geraghty for the ineffectual Brian Meade. Within a minute Niall Ward fouled Cian, still no relation and Farrell converted. 1-6 to 0-3. Niall Ward was subsequently replaced by Tony Scullion. A break in play ensued when the Antrim keeper received treatment for an injury though I felt he was asking for the availability of sunglasses. Antrim's Lynch proceeded to drop a free into the Meath box which was fisted over by someone obscured by the savage amount of bodies in the area. 1-6 to 0-4. Back up the field again, another free, Farrell converts. 1-7 to 0-4. In injury time Cunningham converted a free moved forward for Free-state twisting. 1-7 to 0-5 in Meath's favour. Poor fare. Antrim's passing was their undoing whilst Meath doddled along in 3rd gear.

The second half began with an invigorated Saffrons piling on a modicum of pressure as Brady fired wide when he should've done better and Joe Quinn shouldering Meath midfielder Reilly over the sideline to force the biggest cheer of the day. Antrim's McVeigh was switched onto Meath's increasingly influential captain Moyles. Antrim capitalised on their superiority when Cunningham swung over a fine effort from play. Ciaran Close, Antrim's programme captain, replaced Chris Lynch. Just as Antrim sensed a comeback, another freak goal occurred. Cian Ward bombed in a sky scraper that landed in the box. Half of Andersonstown jumped on the keeper and Farrell was there to flick it into the net. 2-7 to 0-6. The wife was texting about bread. Peter Curran then benefited from a short free to swing over his first. 2-8 to 0-6. The previously cumbersome Aodhan Gallagher bulled his way right down the centre of Meath's defence with all sorts of Royals bouncing off him. He was a man on a mission. Just as he thought they'd be naming an airport after him, he dropped the ball but managed to soccer it towards goal. It rebounded off the post. Fay gathered the rebound, fed Joe Sheridan who found Cian Ward who swung over a beautiful bending score. 2-9 to 0-6. The wife was phoning, something about starvation. Geraghty then got in on the act, blasting a roof cutter over, 2-10 to 0-6. Cunningham free. 2-10 to 0-7. Farrell free. 2-11 to 0-7. Realised I hadn't fed the family since yesterday and left with 10 mins left.

Antrim apparently staged a comeback with sub Close goaling. 2-11 to 1-11. In reality if Antrim had won it i'd have given herself my share too and went straight to Mass. Meath - 7/10 Antrim 5/10

[bigpaul]

Someone obviously fancies themselves as a 'journo',would'nt buy the rag they would write for!

[ONeill]

Sorry, will dumb it down for you. Meath won. Bright lights. Middlin crowd.

[Lecale2]

Nay; good report.

[Orior]

Another fine contribution O'Neill.

Can you write sermons too? I know a few priests that could avail of your expertise.

[Square Ball]

Great report, mind you the second one is the funniest one i have seen in ages

[Lecale2]

What was the attendance, roughly?

[Tatler Jack]

Two great reports O'Neill - especially the second one.

[Gold]

yeah
good work chief

[ONeill]

What was the attendance, roughly?

Hard to guess those things. The stand was about 3/4 full with about another 200-300 spread about the same side. They'd closed off the opposite side for some reason.

[shady character]

O'Neill what a budding young "Journo" you are. Bravo.

"McGreevey in goals was replaced by a young Lamh Dhearg fellow with squinting eyes."

That young fellow you speak of is about 25.....and you will often hear him on the radio or see on the telev ision putting many of our beloved DUP politicians in their box, on issues such as collusion. A prominent solicitor, John, but unfortunately just an above average keeper.
John's father Pat was murdered by loyalists/british over 20 years ago.

[milltown row]

So because of his fathers and his present occupation the guy is free from a bit of slagging. Wind your neck in.

[shady character]

what are you on about milltown row?

My point was that o.neill - as a well informed journalist- should have known who he was, thats all.
so wind your neck in.

[saffron sam2]

what are you on about milltown row?

My point was that o.neill - as a well informed journalist- should have known who he was, thats all.
so wind your neck in.

You've never read one of ONeill's reports before, have you?

[Hardy]

Thanks O'Neill. A better report than anything in the papers.