Following a heavy defeat in their opening round against Clann na nGael, Meath Hill gained their first point in the 2010 Division 3 AFL, with a much improved display, as they played out a draw with Ballinlough, at Meath Hill on Sunday afternoon.
On a perfect day for football, Meath Hill got off to a slow start once again, falling 0-8 to 0-1 behind after twenty minutes. However, Meath Hill responded excellently and reeled off seven unanswered points to draw level fifteen minutes into the second half. Both teams traded points from here on, with Ballinlough (who had Peader Byrne sent off for two yellow cards with ten minutes remaining), kicking the equalising point from a Lorcan Maguire free in additional time.
Meath Hill will be very encouraged by this performance as the starting fifteen including substitutes showed a lot of hunger and desire throughout coupled with playing some patches of excellent football.
In a good all round team display, captain Keith Ginnity, Niall Tully, Tadgh Boyle, Paddy Owens and Tomas Smith were particularly prominent.
Meath Hill - Mark Kierans, Simon Martin, Brendan Kieran, Niall Tully, Karl Parge, Michael Byrne, Barry Kieran, Keith Ginnitty (0-1), Aodhan Matthews (0-1), Mark Tully (0-2), Paddy Owens, Jason Yorke (Pierse McGrath (0-1), Tomas Smith (Derek McMahon), Tadgh Boyle (0-6), Donnchadh Boyle.
Ballinlough - K McGuinness, E Smith, P Muldoon, J Byrne, C Briody, L Maguire (0-4), B Smith (0-2), T Mc Cullen, P Byrne (0-1), J Higgins, Colm Mallon (0-1), J O'Reilly, Kevin Mallon, K Rothwell (0-2), C Mallon(0-1). Subs: P Briody, S Geraghty, N Farrelly, Jonathan O'Reilly, S Byrne