Meath into Hastings Cup final

Meath advanced to the final of the u-21 Hastings Cup FT following a hard-earned 0-8 to 0-5 victory with only 14 players against Westmeath at Abbeylara this afternoon in the wind, rain and even some sunshine.

Meath were always in front and were ahead by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval, but minutes into the second-half they were reduced to 14 when Anthony Burke (Duleek/Bellewstown) was shown a straight red card by referee Aidan Dowler.

There was some amazement amongst the 100 or spectators over the incident as no one seemed to know what happened in what is understood to have been an off-the-ball exchange.

Meath battened down the hatches on a very slippery and soggy pitch and there was no score during the third-quarter.

Na Fianna's Michael Farley got forward soon after and split the posts and then made an opening for Bryan McMahon to extend Meath's lead to four points (0-7 to 0-3).

Westmeath, managed by Dubliner Paul Bealin, converted two late frees, but Joey Wallace also converted a free for Meath at the other end to seal victory.

Meath will play Roscommon in the final next Saturday. Roscommon defeated Cavan in the other semi-final.

All the details in the next edition of the Meath Chronicle out on Tuesday night.

Conall Collier