Boyle burns Meath's ambitions

Winning the Leinster u-21 A HC title was difficult enough, but retaining the crown proved to be a step too far for Meath at Trim on Wednesday of last week when they were edged out in extra-time of a thrilling final by a talented Westmeath side. Defending champions Meath came into the game as major underdogs despite the fact their neighbours had received a bye to the final. Meath had recorded a fine semi-final victory over Kildare. Westmeath were meant to face Wicklow in their semi-final, but the Garden county had to withdraw because of an inability to field a team. Despite their lack of match practice Westmeath were still highly regarded with the bulk of their side drawn from a couple of successful minor sides over the last few years. That expectation was realised in superb fashion as they were forced to dig deep and come from behind in extra-time to snatch a sensational victory. When Longwood's Anthony Healy flicked Keith Keoghan's long free to the net at the end of the first period of extra-time Meath had their noses in front for the first time after 69 pulsating minutes. The remainder turned into a battle for survival, Meath couldn't hold on and squandered a couple of decent chances before Westmeath sealed the deal when the hugely influential Cormac Boyle netted five minutes from the end. Boyle's goal, Westmeath's second, gave the visitors a one-point cushion and the Raharney man added another point a minute later as Meath ran out of steam and could find no way back. The exertions of staying in touch and incessantly chasing the game took its obvious toll on Meath, but they deserved at least a second chance as they refused to surrender and ensured a difficult evening for the fancied Westmeath side. Meath were the stronger side for much of the game, but Westmeath were clinical in front of the posts and showed some excellent stick work with Stephen Boylan, Boyle, Aonghus Clarke and Cathal Scally impressing. The standard was exceptional and it was cruel that there had to be a loser. After an uncertain and nervous start from Meath during which Westmeath, and Boyle in particular, threatened to run riot, the hosts eventually settled and took a firm grip on proceedings with their never-say-die attitude and no small measure of skill inspiring them. Conor O'Shea took on the task of marshalling Boyle and coped admirably while the full-back line of Ray Hatton, Eoin Lynch and Ger Murphy were outstanding throughout against a pacy and highly skilled Westmeath attack. The tenacity and commitment of Francis Doran, Eoin Marsh and Gary Kelly ensured plenty of chances for Meath and with Healy and Derek Doran tormenting the Westmeath rearguard it threatened to prove to be the home side's evening. Keoghan's accuracy from frees was another feature of Meath's resistance with the Killyon man contributing eight points from frees. However, Westmeath worked hard to close down the Meath danger men and they isolated Derek Doran for much of the second-half and that ensured that Meath struggled to get a firm grip on the game until extra-time. It took until the 70th minute for Meath to get themselves in front with Healy's extra-time goal, but they couldn't stay there as Westmeath rediscovered the class they showed early on to close out the victory. It was that exceptional class that gave Westmeath their dream start as they opened up a 1-2 to 0-0 lead inside six minutes. Following a brace of points from Boyle it was Barry O'Meara who reacted quickest when Clarke's '65' came off the upright and fell in front of the goals before he finished the loose ball to the net. Keoghan demonstrated his accuracy from a free after Healy was fouled, but Westmeath were still in the ascendancy as points from Boyle and O'Meara (free) stretched their advantage to 1-4 to 0-1. Meath were facing an uphill struggle, but a slight reshuffle by manager Mike Cole helped his side settle and they quickly got back into the game with another Keoghan free followed by a superb point from Kildalkey's Derek Doran. A brace of converted frees from Keoghan in the early minutes of the second-quarter had the gap down to 0-5 to 1-4, but some sloppy defending allowed Westmeath restore a three-point cushion through Clarke points. A loose ball from defence resulted in Marsh responding for Meath and again the gap was down to the minimum when Derek Doran showed great pace to win possession and loft over. A superb score from Cillian Murphy pushed Westmeath two-points clear again, but Meath finished the half well with points from Ciaran Fitzsimons and Healy ensuring parity at the break, 0-9 to 1-6. Meath should have been ahead at the interval, but Derek Doran saw a great goal chance come crashing back off the post and Westmeath averted the danger. Westmeath restored an advantage inside five minutes of the restart when Clarke was on target twice, but Meath still looked dangerous as Healy rattled the side netting before Keoghan's free made it 0-10 to 1-8. Westmeath continued to the opening minutes of the second-half as O'Meara added a pointed free and Murphy struck a fierce drive off the crossbar, but it was Meath who drew level before the end of the thirdquarter with points from Healy and Derek Doran making it 0-12 to 1-9. Just as Meath got themselves back in the game Westmeath upped the tempo again with two frees from O'Meara and one from Clarke giving them a three-point lead. A close range free from Keoghan was astonishingly waved wide by an umpire before the linesman stepped in to advise the referee that the ball had gone over the bar and the deficit was down to two with four minutes remaining. Meath quickly got back level with Keoghan and Adam Gannon points, but again Westmeath edged ahead and looked to have won the game through a Clarke free before Keoghan responded in kind in injury-time to force an extra 20 minutes action. Nobody was complaining and extra-time was just as exciting with both sides squandering goal chances. Stephen Boylan drove wide for Westmeath while Gannon saw two difficult opportunities fail to hit the net. Boylan and Healy exchanged points before Healy's goal gave Meath a 1-17 to 1-14 lead at the end of the first period of extra-time. When Derek Doran stretched that advantage to four points with eight minutes remaining Meath looked set for victory. However, Westmeath showed tremendous resolve and a brace of O'Meara frees followed by Boyle's late salvo secured the title for the Lake County. SCORERS Westmeath - B O'Meara 1-6, five frees; C Boyle 1-4; A Clarke 0-5, two frees, one '65'; C Murphy 0-1; S Boylan 0-1. Meath - K Keoghan 0-8 frees; A Healy 1-3; D Doran 0-4; E Marsh 0-1; C Fitzsimons 0-1; A Gannon 0-1. THE TEAMS Westmeath - S McGovern; P Laide, A McGrath, C Scally; S Fagan, J Gilligan, A Fitzsimons; J Clarke, A Clarke; M Heffernan, C Boyle, N Dowdall; C Murphy, S Boylan, B O'Meara. Subs - C Murtagh for J Clarke 47mins, K Martin for Laide extra-time. Meath - S McGann; G Murphy, E Lynch, R Hatton; S Brennan, W Mahady, C O'Shea; F Doran, E Marsh; C Fitzsimons, G Kelly, K Keoghan; D Doran, A Healy, D Maguire. Subs - T Raleigh for F Doran 35mins, M Doyle for Fitzsimons 38m, A Gannon for Kelly 44m, K Keena for Maguire 54m. REFEREE Gearoid McCraith (Dublin).