National Football League Division Two Final/Meath 2-12 Roscommon 0-10:Good target men can find scores with regularity and the theory was again successfully put to the test when Meath's Brian Farrell went to work on the Roscommon defence yesterday.
But Farrell's point-taking was not the only reason for Meath's victory - his two goals were the big factors in this match, said a disappointed Roscommon boss John Maughan afterwards.
Farrell's goals dashed any hopes of a party for the Roscommon supporters in the 10,800 attendance. The Nobber man exploited every weakness and was the front runner in unravelling a very suspect Roscommon defence.
The first goal came after 38 minutes with Meath leading at the time by 0-8 to 0-4. That opening goal by Farrell was the direct result of a defensive blunder. His second, just before the end of the third quarter, was also a gift.
Meath could afford a dozen wides and even lose a player towards the end.
Nigel McKeigue's dismissal was the result of a second yellow card issued by the card-happy Armagh referee Peter Hughes.
Farrell's extravagant performance puts him at the head of the top scorers list in the National Football League. He takes over the honour from Tipperary's Declan Browne.
The Roscommon team arrived on the pitch full of vim and vigour and delighted in the presence of a tunnel of honour set up by the Roscommon hurling team who had just captured the Division Three title. The hurling match was far more exciting in most aspects, not least pace and scoring exchanges.
Playing against the wind in the first half, Roscommon did well to be only four points adrift at the break.
They opened with a Ger Heneghan 45, but Joe Sheridan, Farrell and company in the Meath attack soon had that position redressed.
Roscommon's major problem was in the half forwards, where they could not make headway past Seán Kenny, Anthony Moyles and Chaoimhín King.
"We never really got going. We will now take a break and get back into training in a week's time," said Maughan.
Meath selector Tommy Dowd was in a better position to look to the future: "This has been a very satisfactory victory for us and our good winning margin will enable us to spring back into training this coming week."
Meath captain Anthony Moyles said: "We prepared well for this match following some indifferent displays . . . We now look forward with more confidence to our opening Leinster championship tie against Kildare in three weeks."
Meath supporters were certainly not shy in expressing their respect for their outstanding player, Graham Geraghty. He earned the biggest roar of the day when coming in as a substitute.
MEATH: B Murphy; O Harrington, D Fay, N McKeigue; S Kenny (0-1), A Moyles, C King; N Crawford, M Ward; M O'Loughlin, R Reilly, P Byrne; S Bray, B Farrell (2-8, 0-5 frees), J Sheridan (0-3). Subs: G Geraghty for M Ward.
ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, A McDermott, R Kelly; M Daly, R O'Connor, R Doonan; M Finnerty, C Mannion; D Hoey, G Cox (0-2), B Cregg; J Tiernan (0-1), E Kenny, G Heneghan (0-7). Subs: D O'Gara for Doonan; S O'Neill for E Kenny; P O'Connor for Kelly.
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).
