In a dramatic encounter that had spectators on the edge of their seats, the Meath Combined Schools hurling team were narrowly defeated by Dublin South Schools after extra time in Trim GAA on Saturday, November 22nd.
The final score read Dublin South Schools 4-13, Meath Combined Schools 3-15, with the game swinging back and forth before Dublin’s strong finish in extra time proved decisive.
The match was a thrilling contest from start to finish, with both teams showing impressive skill, determination, and resilience. Meath started the game brightly, dominating large portions of the first half. A lively opening saw Meath’s forwards creating numerous scoring opportunities, with the industrious Ben Healy and the influential Louis McIvor pulling the strings in attack. McIvor, in particular, was a constant threat and managed to land a couple of vital scores from frees, while Cathal Barron also contributed with well-taken points.
Dublin South Schools, however, were never far behind, and their forwards kept Meath’s defence under pressure right up until the end of normal time. With the two teams’ level at the end of the 60 minutes, they headed for extra time.
Dublin South’s advantage seemed insurmountable at one stage, with Meath trailing by 9 points midway through extra time. But the Meath side, mounted a spirited comeback. McIvor, pulled off a stunning performance in the extra period, scoring two critical goals to bring his team back into contention.
McIvor’s first goal came from a 21-yard free, a clinical finish that sent the Meath fans into raptures. His second, a well-taken penalty after a foul on Eoin Flanagan, gave Meath a glimmer of hope as they closed the gap to just a point. Flanagan, who had been influential upon his substitution, also scored a crucial goal, further narrowing the deficit. With 15 minutes to go, it was all to play for.
However, Dublin South Schools’ resilience in extra time was too much for the Meath side to overcome. Despite their best efforts, the Dublin team found another gear and kicked on in the final stages. Meath had their chances, but a couple of missed opportunities and a solid defensive display by Dublin South saw the game slip out of reach.
The Meath team, who had been the stronger side in normal time, can take great pride in their performance, particularly in their comeback in extra time. McIvor’s heroics and the relentless drive of players like Ben Healy, Shane Jordan, Jack McKeown and Cathal Barron were highlights of a spirited display.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Meath will be encouraged by their resilience and the fact that they were able to claw their way back from a significant deficit. The experience will be invaluable as they look to build on this performance in the future.
By Meath Coaching & Games Mon 1st Dec
