Easy win for Meath in Dunshaughlin heat

From start to finish Meath controlled the All-Ireland u-21 B HC encounter against Roscommon at sun-splashed Dunshaughlin today eventually defeating the Connacht side by 1-22 to 0-6. 

The game was played in baking heat but neither the conditions - or the lacklusture challenge from the visitors - could prevent the Royals from building on a 0-13 to 0-0 interval lead  to record their win.

A lack of scoring power wasn't the only problem for Roscommon as they finished the game with 13 men after red cards were shown to Jack Gunning (39 minutes) and Aengus Lyons (60 minutes). 

Meath' s goal arrived on 43 minutes when Ben McGowan touched a Stephen Gibbons cross to the net. Brian Dowling was prominent on the scoring front for Meath with six points, with Peter Slevin, Jarlath Ennis, Conor Fitzpatrick, Conor Gorman, Cian Rogers, Daithi McGowan and David Murtagh others to contribute scores over the lob-sided hour. 

Daniel Glynn topscored for Roscommon with five points. 

Meath manager Brian Gilsenan expressed himself happy with this his team's first outing in the competition. 

"What we learned from today's game is that this group of players are very much up for the challenge. Everyone who was playing, including the lads who came on, all showed a great attitude," he said. 

Meath play Derry or Mayo in the next round. 

Read match report, quotes and see pics in next issue of the Meath Chronicle.