The game at Davitt Park Swatragh, came alive in the closing 20 minutes when Derry reduced a ten point deficit to just three points. Unlike their last game against Armagh however, Derry couldn't find the late scores required to produce an improbable result. Manager Brian McGilligan was left to rue what he saw as a missed opportunity:
“The game was there for the taking. We should have won the match. But you only have to look at our number of wides and the amount of stupid mistakes we made in front of goal. In inter-county hurling there is no place for that. It’s something you would see U12s at."Meath were able to score at ease throughout the game though, and their extra proficiency showed in the dying moments when they held off the Derry challenge by hitting enough points to ensure victory. The Royals now top Division 3A, and with Derry's next game away to Kildare in three weeks, Oakleaf hopes of promotion have been dented.
McGilligan is aware that his team will have to improve if the aims for the season are to be met and his mood won't have been helped by having to drop five players from his panel. He has confirmed that the five won't be getting back in the squad unless they are "prepared to meet the required level of commitment". A few weeks ago the Dungiven man talked about how, in recent seasons, the Derry Senior Hurling team was a "bit of craic" for some players, and that attitudes would need to change. It appears he is sticking to his word.
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