Victory for Meath

Meath manager Mick O'Dowd (pictured) got his term in charge off to a winning start in the semi-final of the Fitzsimons Cup in Kells earlier today. The Gaeil Colmcille-promoted inter-county tournament was revived last year after a lengthy break and Meath won the Sam Maguire-lookalike cup. They will now face Offaly in the decider at Grangegodden (Kells) next Sunday as they bid for two-in-a-row. However, today Meath made a tentative start and trailed by a point (0-5 to 0-6) at the interval. Meath upped the tempo in thes econd-half and a Brian Sheridan goal proved crucial as the Royals took the spoils. Cavan will play Louth (two beaten semi-finalists) in the Shield decider next weekend. Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Caolan Young, Donal Keogan, Davy Dalton; Cormac Rowe, Darren Hagan, Ciaran Lenehan (0-2); Conor Gillespie, Brian Meade; Stephen Crosby, Damien Carroll (0-1), Daragh McNamara; Cian Ward (0-2 frees), Michael Newman (0-3 one free), Brian Sheridan (1-0). Subs - Sean Tobin (0-2 one free) for Ward 28 mins, Eoghan Harrington for Meade 61m. Cavan - A O'Mara; J Hynes, P Carroll, N O'Reilly; P Reilly (0-1), J McEnroe, D O'Reilly; G McKiernan, T Corr (0-2); C Mackey, M Reilly, M McKeever; K Meenan, K Tierney (0-1), N McDermott (0-3 two frees). Subs - A Clarke, O O'Connell (0-1), E Keating (0-2). Referee - Sean Carroll (Westmeath).