Three second half goals give Meath Schools a fine victory

Meath Schools 4-18, Westmeath Schools 2-14

Despite a spirited display, Westmeath Schools suffered a 10-point defeat against Meath Schools in the Leinster PPS Senior ‘A’ Hurling Group Team quarter-final at Dovida Lakepoint Park on Saturday.

In pleasant November conditions, the visitors produced an impressive second-half performance to progress to the last four of the competition, with a high standard of hurling on display from both sides.

Meath got the ideal start with an early goal from full-forward Callum Buckley, but Westmeath competed really well and got their reward when Cian McKeogh found the net in the ninth minute. The home side were just a point down at the end of the first quarter before Meath surged into a six-point lead with some quality scores from Louis McIvor, centre-back Jack McKeown, and corner-forwards Alex Cole and Eoin Flanagan.

At half-time Meath led by 1-11 to 1-6 and Westmeath had plenty of food for thought. Two goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second half laid the platform for a relatively comfortable Meath victory, substitute Ben Healy making a fine impact with the first of those majors. Buckley got his second goal as the visitors led by 3-15 to 1-10 at the end of the third quarter, and Alex Cole whipped home Meath’s fourth goal with 13 minutes remaining.

Cian and Cormac McKeogh continued to impress for the home side, the former forcing a fine save from Meath ‘keeper Dan Carolan on 42 minutes. He eventually got the goal his second-half display deserved with five minutes remaining when he struck low to the net while on an advantage.

The fast all-weather playing surface contributed to a lively match, and the movement and pace of the Meath side was one of the main reasons behind their victory, particularly in the second quarter as their lead swelled from one to six points.

The early stages of this match saw the home side compete strongly. Westmeath’s first goal after 10 minutes brought them right back into the contest, Cian McKeogh playing a one-two with centre-back Cian Fleming in a move through the centre before finding the net. Cole, impressive centre-forward Cathal Barron, wing-forward McIvor and midfielder Kian McKiegue each registered points. Meath took a grip they would never relinquish when McIvor (two, one free), centre-back Jack McKeown (who was unmarked from a line ball), Cole and Flanagan added to their side’s tally.

The second half was just two minutes old when Healy showed his class following his introduction at the break, his goal coming after a Westmeath puck-out went astray. He soon pointed, and Meath kept the scoreboard running before Barron set up Buckley for his second goal — Westmeath ‘keeper Oran Smith almost managing to keep the shot out.

Donnacha Briody’s free cut the leeway, but Cian McKeogh’s shot was excellently saved by Dan Carolan; an excellent point by Cormac McKeogh left it 3-15 to 1-11. At this stage, Meath’s Alex Cole found the net, whipping strongly on a loose ball to give Smith little chance. While Cormac McKeogh scored a fine point from 60 metres, followed by another from midfielder Ronan Lawlor, and Cian McKeogh finished to the net, Meath always had the edge.

McKiegue, substitute Joel Mangan and McIvor registered further Meath points as they won with something to spare in the end.

Scorers - Meath: C Buckley 2-0, K McKiegue 0-5, A Cole 1-2, B Healy 1-1, L McIvor 0-4 (1f, 1 ‘65’), E Flanagan 0-3, C Barron, J McKeown and J Mangan 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Cian McKeogh 2-1, D Briody 0-6 (5f, 1 ‘65’), Cormac McKeogh 0-3 (1f), R Lawlor 0-2, C Fleming, E Beehan 0-1 each.

Meath: Dan Carolan; Luke Casey, Sean Harrington, Euan Kerr; Eanna Kiernan, Jack McKeown, Luca Taheny; Kian McKiegue, Eoghan McDermott; Louis McIvor, Cathal Barron, Shane Jordan; Eoin Flanagan, Callum Buckley, Alex Cole.

Subs: Ben Healy for Jordan (h-t), Joel Mangan for McDermott (43), Sean Ward for McKeown (47), Ruairí McCaffrey for Kiernan (59).

Westmeath: Oran Smith; Dara Mulligan, Oisín McCauley, James Connolly; Eoghan Beehan, Cian Fleming, Max Keoghan Gray; Ronan Lawlor, Conor Flynn; Cian McKeogh, Rory Quinn, Jamie O’Neill; Mikey Devine, Cormac McKeogh, Donnacha Briody.

Subs: Cian Magee for Flynn (39), Aaron Hardiman and Sean Murray for Connolly and O’Neill (44), Barry Bradley for Keoghan Gray (48).

Referee: Marius Stones (Offaly).