Meath impress in Leinster u-21 FC

Meath advanced to the second round of the Leinster u-21 FC with a thoroughly merited 3-13 to 1-7 victory over Louth at Navan's Páirc Táilteann this evening. See brief video clip: http://youtu.be/C38VWiK3DRY Meath were ahead by 1-6 to 1-3 at the interval despite conceding a goal after only 20 seconds when Louth's full-forward Patrick Reilly found the net, but the hosts dominated the second-half and were out of sight by the time referee Damien Maher ended the action. Louth could only muster three first-half points with Aussie Rules-bound Ciaran Byrne sending over twice from play and one free and he added a brace in the second-half with Reilly and substitute Glen Traynor adding to the Wee County's paltry tally. Meath settled well into the game after that early reversal and the full-forward line of Eamonn Wallace, Bobby O'Brien and Bryan McMahon, all Ratoath players, worked well as a unit to create openings. However, too many chances were squandered with seven wides by the end of half although Meath also managed some excellent points with Daniel Queeney claiming three, two frees, and his Na Fianna colleague Conor Downey adding a brace. Queeney also claimed Meath's goal in the eighth minute when he finished from a tight angle on the left after receiving a pass from McMahon. Bobby O'Brien broke the Na Fianna dominance on the scoreboard when he chipped in with a fine point from play in the 21st minute while Wallace was denied a goal when a fierce shot thundered off the Louth crossbar and was cleared. Louth resumed the second-half smartly with a pointed Byrne free inside a minute, but McMahon replied similarly at the other end. Reilly for Louth from play, after Meath could have been awarded a free-out, and Queeney also exchanged points. Then the Royals hit a purple patch that produced 2-3 in 13 minutes and finished the game as a contest with Queeney and McMahon finding the Louth net. In between those goals McMahon (two) and Downey added points. Further points from Wallace and Cian O'Brien completed Meath's tally. Meath will play Kildare in the next round - provisionally fixed for 5th March in Navan. See next week's Meath Chronicle for more detailed match reports and after-match interviews with manager and player. Meath - Conor McHugh (Oldcastle); Simon Carty (Dunderry), David McQuillan (St Patrick's), Cathal Finn (Dunboyne); Brian Dillon (Navan O'Mahonys), Brian Moore (Duleek / Bellewstown), Neil Shortall (Curraha); Conor Sheridan (Simonstown Gaels), Cian O'Brien (Ratoath 0-1); Shane Barry (Simonstown Gaels), Conor Downey (Na Fianna 0-3), Daniel Queeney (Na Fianna 2-4 one free); Eamonn Wallace (Ratoath 0-1), Bobby O'Brien (Ratoath 0-1), Bryan McMahon (Ratoath 1-3 two frees). Subs - Anthony Forde (Moynalvey) for Finn 46 mins, Matthew Devine (Donaghmore / Ashbourne) for O'Brien 54m, Fergus Toolan (Dunshaughlin) for Barry and Harry Rooney for Sheridan both 55m, Conor Devereux (Dunshaughlin) for Dillon 57m. Louth - K Brennan; C Ward, D Campbell, K Toner; M McKeown, A Williams, S McMahon; R Brodigan, M Breen; D McMahon, C McKeever, M Rafferty; K Hearty, P Reilly (1-1), C Byrne (0-5 three frees). Subs - A English for Toner 25 mins, S Donnelly for McMahon 27m, G Traynor (0-1 free) for Ward 35m, C Deane for McMahon 52m, A Quigley for Breen 57m. Referee - Damien Maher (Westmeath).