Meath defeat Carlow in Leinster MFL semi-final

Meath qualified for the final of the Leinster MFL today with a 2-14 to 1-6 win against Carlow at Dr Cullen Park.

Meath were ahead by 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval with Summerhill's Conor Freyne grabbing 1-1, the goal was a superb individual score as he waltzed past a couple of Carlow defenders.

Shane Walsh (three, two frees), Thomas Murtagh, Robert Smith and Adam Murphy completed the first-half points tally for Meath who finished the opening 30 minutes with seven wides to their credit.

Carlow were well off the pace for most of the opening half, but stayed in touch with very good points from Gavin Healy, Robbie Kane, Ronan Curran and Conor Doyle.

Substitute Conall Ahearne sent over Meath's first point of the second-half as Freyne limped out of the action while Walsh increased the advantage to 1-10 to 0-4 by the end of the third-quarter with a well-taken brace.

Carlow got a boost when Andrew Kehoe got in for a goal in the 46th minute and that was quickly followed by a Cormac Lomax point that reduced the deficit to five points (1-5 to 1-10).

Meath settled into the game again and points from Paddy Matthews and Liam Shaw were followed by a goal from Ahearne for a 2-12 to 1-5 advantage. Caolan Ward and Keith Connell points closed Meath's account and sealed the place in the final next Saturday.

Michael Murphy's pointed free completed Carlow's tally.

Meath - Andrew Beakey (St Colmcille's); Sean Ryan (Dunboyne), Laim Byrne (Dunboyne), Niall Mulvey (Longwood); Conal Courtney (Gaeil Colmcille), Dan Devine (Na Fianna), Adam Murphy (Moynalvey); Thomas Murtagh (Nobber), Padraig Nulty (St Patrick's); Robert Smith (Oldcastle), Conor Freyne (Summerhill), Sean Martin (Na Fianna); Jordan Morris (Nobber), Shane Walsh (Na Fianna), Cathal Finnegan (Seneschalstown). Subs - Caolan Ward (Wolfe Tones) for Courtney, Conall Ahearne (Ratoath) for Smith and Joey Donnelly (Kilbride) for Finnegan all half-time; Darragh Nolan for Freyne 34 mins; Paddy Matthews (Meath Hill) for Murtagh 52m; Liam Shaw (Summerhill) for (have to check that one)