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Afternoon all, it’s Leinster senior football semi-final day in Croke Park.
Here’s what’s in store:
- Meath v Westmeath, 2pm
- Dublin v Kildare, 4pm
So can anyone stop the Dubs this year? We’ll see later if Kildare can come up with a plan to stifle them but before that it’s the turn of Meath or Westmeath to book a place in the decider on 12 July. Throw-in is at 2pm with Cork’s Conor Lane the referee for this one.
Let’s get to the team news then shall we?
Five changes to the Meath team. Royal County supremo Mick O’Dowd is rolling out the big guns for the showdown against the Lake County with Conor McGill, Mickey Burke, Bryan Menton, Kevin Reilly and Mickey Newman coming in for starts.
Davy Dalton, Nicky Judge and Brian Power make way in defence, with Adam Flanagan and Joey Wallace also dropping out.
Meath
1. Patrick O Rourke (Skryne)
2. James Mc Entee (Curraha)
3. Conor Mc Gill (Ratoath)
4. Donncha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels)
5. Mickey Burke (Longwood)
6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny, Capt.)
7. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
8. Harry Rooney (Skryne)
9. Kevin Reilly (Navan O Mahony’s)
10. Graham Reilly (St. Colmcille’s)
11. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey)
12. Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
13. Michael Newman (Kilmainham)
14. Stephen Bray (Navan O’Mahony’s)
15. Brian Mc Mahon (Ratoath)
There’s just the one change in the Westmeath team named by manager Tom Cribbin.
Lorcan Smyth has been called up ahead of Ronan Foley.
Westmeath
1. Darren Quinn (Tyrrellspass)
2. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
3. Kevin Maguire (Caulry)
4. John Gilligan (Ballymore)
5. Paddy Holloway (Castledaly)
6. Kieran Martin (Maryland)
7. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
8. Paul Sharry (St Loman’s)
9. Daragh Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
10. Ray Connellan (Athlone)
11. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass, capt.)
12. Denis Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks)
13. Lorcan Smyth (Mullingar Shamrocks)
14. John Heslin (St Loman’s)
15. Shane Dempsey (St Loman’s)
Here’s the Meath subs:
Conor McHugh, Adam Flanagan, Eamon Wallace, David Dalton, Joey Wallace, Brian Power, Sean Tobin, Donal Lenihan, Damien Carroll, Nicky Judge, Jamie Queeney.
And here’s the Westmeath subs:
Gary Connaughton, Francis Boyle, John Connellan, John Egan, Ronan Foley, Kieran Gavin, Dennis Glennon, Jamie Gonoud, Paul Greville, David Lynch, John Stapleton.
Meath 0-1 Westmeath 0-0
Lightning start by Meath as Stephen Bray knocks over an early point.
Meath 0-2 Westmeath 0-0
Graham Reilly doubles Meath’s lead with Eamonn Wallace, a late inclusion in attack instead of Mickey Newman, setting up the point again.
Meath 0-2 Westmeath 0-1
Westmeath pull a point back, an excellent outside of the right effort from John Heslin.
Meath 0-4 Westmeath 0-1
Meath looking really sharp in attack in the early stages as Eamonn Wallace turns scorer on this occasion off his left.
Meath 0-5 Westmeath 0-1
Meath so close to hitting the net early on but Bryan McMahon’s palmed effort is denied by the upright. Then Graham Reilly charges through to clip over a point that sends Meath four clear.
Meath 0-6 Westmeath 0-1
Stephen Bray pops up with his second point of the day, firing over off his left for Meath.
Second big goal chance of the day for Meath but they’re foiled as Mickey Newman, a temporary substitute, shoots against the legs of Darren Quinn.
Meath well on top so far, they’ve a five point lead and could have struck for two goals as well. It’s noticeable as well how well Kevin Reilly is playing back in defence for Meath in the sweeper role with Westmeath devoid of attacking inspiration so far.
Meath 0-8 Westmeath 0-1
Meath stamping their authority on the scoreboard now with Bryan Menton and Wallace tacking on further points.
Meath 0-9 Westmeath 1-3
And suddenly there’s some life in this game! Westmeath’s supporters in full voice as they have a few scores to shout about. John Heslin swings over a free and Shane Dempsey registers one from play, while Eamonn Wallace bangs over his third point of the day for Meath.
But the centrepiece of this scoring burst was Kieran Martin galloping forward for Westmeath from his number six berth and firing home a goal just like he did against Wexford.
Meath 2-10 Westmeath 1-3
And the complexion of this game has completely changed now. We thought there was a bit of a contest emerging but Meath look to have killed off the match at an early juncture. It’s two emphatic finishes to the net from Bryan McMahon for Meath but the Westmeath defence was carved open by long deliveries. Andrew Tormey adds a point from a free and Meath are gone ten clear.
Subs
Westmeath ring the changes but it could be too late for them to force their way back into this. John Connellan comes on for midfielder Daragh Daly and corner-back Killian Daly is replaced by Jamie Gonoud.
Meath 2-10 Westmeath 1-5
A pair of points in quick succession for Westmeath courtesy of Heslin and Dempsey.
Meath 2-12 Westmeath 1-6
The one-way traffic continues. Wallace and Reilly point for Meath, that’s a combined 0-7 from play so far for that duo. Martin replies by smacking over a fine point for Westmeath.
Eight-point lead for Meath at the break, they’re well on top. Westmeath need a huge turnaround to get back in to contention here.
Scorers for Meath: Brian McMahon 2-1, Eamon Wallace 0-4, Graham Reilly 0-3, Stephen Bray 0-2, Bryan Menton, Andrew Tormey (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Westmeath: John Heslin 0-4 (0-3f), Kieran Martin 1-1, Shane Dempsey 0-2.
Sub: Westmeath make one change at the break as David Lynch comes in for Lorcan Smyth.
Meath 2-12 Westmeath 1-9
John Connellan on the mark with a pair of points to get Westmeath off to a fine start in the second-half.
Meath 2-13 Westmeath 1-9
Graham Reilly knocks over a neat point after a fine Meath team move splits open the Westmeath rearguard.
Sub: Another Westmeath change as Denis Glennon becomes the latest player to be introduced, at the expense of Shane Dempsey on this occasion.
Meath 2-13 Westmeath 1-10
Heslin slots over a free after being fouled himself and Westmeath are facing a six-point deficit once more.
Meath 2-14 Westmeath 1-11
Points swapped as Tormey converts a free for Meath and Heslin hits a ’45 for Westmeath.
Subs: Meath bring in David Dalton and Adam Flanagan for Michael Burke and Harry Rooney.
Graham Reilly is gone off for Meath are being shown a black card with Michael Newman coming on to replace him.
Meath 2-16 Westmeath 1-11
Great impact by Newman as he floats over a point moments after coming on. McMahon adds another soon after and Meath are coasting clear once more.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 1-11
And the gap continues to grow as Bray knocks over another for Meath.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-11
Goal for Westmeath! Kieran Martin with his second of the game.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-12
Fine point off his left by John Heslin. Westmeath coming back in to this?
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-13
Heslin on target again, this time from a ’45 and the gap is down to four.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-14
And incredibly it’s back now to three points! Ray Connellan with the latest Westmeath point and their supporters are springing to life around Croke Park.
Meath 2-17 Westmeath 2-15
Another fine point from Heslin and Westmeath are only two adrift now!
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-15
That’s a really important point for Meath to settle their nerves as Newman converts a free into Hill 16.
Black card for Meath’s Donncha Tobin are he dragged back Westmeath sub John Connellan.
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-16
Heslin confidently steps up to slot over another free for Westmeath and and then he hits the post from play with a chance to cut the gap to the minimum! Huge excitement here.
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-17
And now the gap is back to one. A clumsy foul by Meath sub Brian Power and Heslin does the rest form the free.
Meath 2-18 Westmeath 2-18
It’s level! Kieran Martin tears in the endline for Westmeath and fists over a point. After being eight down at half-time and nine early in the second-half, Westmeath are level!
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Westmeath 3-19 Meath 2-18
This is absolutely amazing, what a revival from Westmeath.
And now Meath’s Paddy O’Rourke has been shown a red card for a foul on Kieran Martin.
It’s fair enough. Class act as he is, he’s getting on and going against arguably the most physical nation in rugby. Don’t want to be carrying around injured men because he would be targeted almost every game. Only way I could have forseen him going is playing out/managing the last 20 of a game.
@Ultan Corcoran: Yeah you’re right, and even someone who would be a test bench player has to be up to starting. With Johnny I can see whenever he came on (start or after 55 mins) some monstrous SA back rower or lock trying to ‘test his durability’. Plus I expect the training games to be pretty full on as well as everyone tries to stake their claims. Lions tours are always tough so this might actually extend his career too. Along with giving him an extra chip on the shoulder to add to his motivation next season.
@Paddy Kennedy: Stating facts on everything man, nearly every Saffa forward would be out to paste him from the get go. Think every tour is different and being SA this time around, thats why the bruisers are being called up rather than the less physical lads. A shame but definitely could elongate his careers in both Blue and Green.
@Ultan Corcoran: every forward wants to paste the 10. Sexton is one of the strongest defenders playing 10 arround. He’s not fit so doesn’t go and that’s fair enough but there’s far flakier 10′s about
@Chris Mc: nothing to do with flakieness it’s about durability why risk having your starting 10 injured 15 min into game 1 and having to re make a game plan plan the rest of the series and bring in a extra player.
Think you might see him called up yet. If there are injuries at fly-half, you’d certainly expect Sexton to get the nod over Ford say. Other than that, he’s not played much since the 6N so it’s arguably the right call by the selectors.
@Carmine Lorenzo: If they’re worried about his durability today, that’s not gonna change in 4 weeks’ time. Ford goes before Sexton based on the comments of Jenkins. No doubt.
@Ricky Wright: I’d be surprised if Gatland picked Ford even as a replacement due to his lack of physicality.
@Ricky Wright: I get what you’re saying, but if the test week is approaching with a few of the club games out of the way, I could see them opting for Sexton ahead of Ford for example if there were injuries. If this squad was picked at the end of the 6N, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’d have selected him.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Agreed. I think he travels if the squad was picked the night after we beat England. But if the squad was picked in January, maybe he wouldn’t have. For Sexton, he needs game time to prove he’s fit, not on form. He’s not gonna get that. I thought they’d bring him and use him sparingly until the first test. Easier to do with a shorter schedule.
Tom Brady, I’ll just leave that there.
@Aidan Kearney: i dont follow NFL, but how many times has Brady gone off injured this season?
@Gar: he hurt his knee in 2008 missed a season I think. Missed 4 games in 2016 because he let some air out of a football
@Aidan Kearney: god forbib someone should have an ambition.
@Aidan Kearney: if sexton was made of the same stuff as Brady he might of been on plane , Brady has rarely been injured
@Aidan Kearney: good lad I’m sure we would be embarrassed with your sporting or rugby cv
@Aidan Kearney: Larry Bird!
Who’s got next in naming old US athletes in sports that have nothing to do with rugby?
@Aidan Kearney: ha…if brady had got the same treatment as sexton, he’d have retired at 24…
‘roughing the passer’ ill just jeave that there
Wow 4 nations and they get to pick 3 no.10′s….. they mustn’t listen to Newstalk radio or to iiam toland. That’s some reflection of how those outside Ireland see sexton.
@Kevin O’brien: are opinions outside of Ireland more valid than those in Ireland
Off the ball are at it right now. It’s so funny to listen to them moan. They are the Johnny Sexton fan club. It’s so funny to hear them make up excuses.
There’s a lot of training and warmups before the tests .Not wishing any injuries on any player but there will be a few for sure.
Plays against LaRog and goes. Shame for him, would have been a nice cherry on top of the twilight of his career, always more that go out so hope for a few yet. Some mad selections in there, Saffies will steam roll it.