Second-half display angers boss
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LIKE most intercounty managers Meath's Eamonn O'Brien rarely 'shoots from the hip' when speaking to the media. He prefers to adopt the cautious approach and even though every match is different the lyrics are always similar.
So when he produces – 'it's a game we should not have won, and I thought our second half display was awful and that performance is not acceptable to me and the players know that' – then it must have been really bad.
'Westmeath will be kicking themselves for missing that late free which would have put them ahead,' the manager said.
'We played terribly in the second half I don't know what happened, again it's something we are going to have to sit down and chat about.
'It is very difficult to explain that performance.
'We created plenty of chances in the first half and we were very nearly out of reach at half-time but almost paid the penalty for not taking our chances throughout the second half. At this level you have to take your chances and we should probably have been another four or five points ahead at half time.
'Overall our display in the second period was awful whether it was attitude or what I don't know but we got most things wrong in that second half. '
With Cian Ward out with an injury both David Bray and Jamie Queeney struggled to make an impact from placed balls and O'Brien acknowledged that the conversion rate, both from play and free-kicks would have to be improved dramatically.
'I suppose we need to thank God or some one, we did get out of jail and we need to be thankful for it.
'We played good football in the first half, but the second was inexplicable.'
Meanwhile We s t m e a t h manager
Brendan Hackett was more optimistic of his side avoiding relegation despite this third successive defeat.
He said: 'A draw would have been a fair result but this was a massive improvement from the defeat to Armagh in our previous outing.
'Meath were very sharp in the opening half, but our lads battled really hard to get back into the match and I couldn't have asked for anything more from them.
'We are in a transition period and are rebuilding but I think we have turned the corner with this display.
'The main aim now is to preserve our Division 2 status and I think we will need to pick up five points to achieve that.' Drumconrath 1-9 Blackhall Gaels 0-5
AFTER leading 0-3 to 0-2 when playing against the breeze Drumconrath made the most of their opportunities throughout the second half to emerge convincing winners.
Thomas Carolan, Brendan Lyons, Terry Halpenny, Peter McEvoy and Niall Martin shone for the Reds.
- Sean WALL
