Pairc Tailteann was in great condition, considering the drought, for this div. 3 league final between two teams that had only lost twice in the 11 game league campaign. Meath Hill, with their usual great number of supporters were quick to fire 2 points from play. Bective responded with a fast ball in from Cathal Mc Connell to Sean Keating who fly kicked over the advancing goal keeper but needed the inrushing Mark O’Brien to palm into the net. Bective added a point from play but Meath Hill follow up with two points in the 10th minute. Points were traded before Marty Mulhall palms in to the Meath Hill net on 25 minutes after a penetrating run from Mark O’Brien. Meath Hill goal from a punched ball after a long delivery to inside the Bective square in the 32nd minute, and they added a point from a 45m kick to conclude the scoring for the first half. Bective 2-5, Meath Hill 1-7.
Meath Hill, now playing into a stiff breeze, pointed from play on 3 minutes. Bective lost the influential Cathal Mc Connell after a strike to the chest and he was replaced by Ben Malone. Mulhall points from a free kick, and Meath Hill added 3 more points from play, before Paul Mc Cabe pointed a free kick on 16 minutes. David Fitzpatrick came on for Bective and carried the ball into attack at pace. Again points were traded and Meath Hill scored 2 points on 30 and 31 minutes and looked to have won this exciting final but Mulhall landed a fine point from play on 34 minutes to take this game to extra time with a score line of Bective 2-11, to Meath Hill’s 1-14.
Bective, playing into the wind in the first half of extra time, were trailing Meath Hill by two points but points from Paul Mc Cabe in the 8th and 10th minutes leveled the game again.
Both teams were out on their feet in the second half of extra time with many players going down with leg cramps in this 27 degree summer’s afternoon and both teams introduced fresh legs. Michael Lyness and James Davis came in for Bective. Meath Hill again went 2 points up but great work from James Davis created the opening for a fine Sean Keating point from play. But as time was running out for the Bective men Davis again launched an attack and was fouled which gave Mulhall a free kick from 40 metres, which he duly landed, and brought this match to a replay.
Bective 2-15, Meath Hill 1-18.
Bective team started:
Greg Hogge, Donagh Garvey, Diarmuid Rogers, Jack Grant, Craig Roche, Jarlath Brennan, Colin O’Rourke, Kevin Brennan, Ciaran Mc Connell, Mark O’Brien, Cathal Mc Connell, Paul Mc Cabe, Paul Lyness, Sean Keating, Marty Mulhall.
