Meath's Niall Weir tries to escape from Westmeath's Niall Mitchell in today's NHL Div 2A clash.

Heartbreak for Meath as Lake County claim points

There was heartbreak for Meath as they lost out to Westmeath by the narrowest of margins, 1-18 to 1-19 against Westmeath in the NHL Div 2A at Trim today. 

This was a close encounter throughout with Meath ahead 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval and looking like they might push on from there. 

However, they shipped a big blow on 54 minutes when John Gilligan broke through for a Westmeath goal and put his side 1-14 to 0-14 in front. 

Jack Regan registerd 1-12 for Meath to cap an excellent display with his goal coming in injury time from a penalty. The composed Kiltale man drove the ball low to the net from the penalty after Alan Douglas was fouled. 

Westmeath led 1-19 to 0-17 before Regan finished the scoring with 1-1, with his goal coming from the penalty, and he was very unlucky not to get an equalising point deep into injury time when he shot narrowly wide from a long-range free. Alan Douglas (two), Jams Toher, James Kelly, Colm O Mealoid and Adam Gannon were others get on the scoresheet for the home side. 

Derek McNicholas and Ciaran Doyle caused big problems for Meath on a sunny afternoon in Trim with the game played before a sizeable crowd. However the home players and supporters were bitterly disappointed with the one-point defeat. Meath paid the price for wasting some good chances especially in the opening half. Now Kerry awaits. 

See analysis, match report and reaction in this week's Meath Chronicle