Early goals boost Meath to Hastings Cup win

Early goals from Conor Moriarty boosted Meath to an impressive 3-15 to 0-14 Hastings Cup u-21 FT victory over Leitrim at Dunganny on Saturday.

A good start was half the battle for Meath with Moriarty finishing to the net from close range after 12 seconds following a sweeping move involving Darragh Campion and Ethan Devine.
Leitrim's Darragh Rooney hit three of the next four points (two frees) in response to an effort from a David McLoughlin free to close the gap to the minimum, but by the 19th minute the visitors were ahead with two more frees and one from play from Rooney cancelling out a sole free from Thomas O'Reilly to make it 0-6 to 1-2.
Within a minute of falling behind Meath went ahead again with Moriarty gathering O'Reilly's mis-hit point attempt and blasting to the net for his second goal.
Luke Murphy replied for Leitrim, but in the closing eight minutes of the half it was all Meath as three more points from O'Reilly (one free) and fine scores from McLoughlin and Moriarty ensured a 2-7 to 0-7 interval lead for Callaghan's side.
The sides shared the opening four scores of the second period with O'Reilly and McLoughlin (free) on target to cancel out two efforts from Rooney (one free).
Jack Heslin missed a great goal chance to drag Leitrim back into the game before the lively Ryan O'Rourke pointed to close the gap to 0-10 to 2-9 in the 44th minute.
Seconds later Meath rasponded with their third goal when a great run by Cathal McConnell set up McLoughlin's for the easiest of finishes unmarked from close range. O'Reilly added another point as Meath stretched their advantage to 3-10 to 0-10.
Points from Conor Gaffney and Francis Flynn either side of another O'Reilly score kept Leitrim honest, but as both sides rang the changes it was Meath who continued to look striong with O'Reilly, David McEntee (free) , Podge McGowan (free) and Sean Reilly closing their account to wrap up the easy win.
Meath's late flurry of three points might come in handy if scoring difference is required to determine who advances to the Hastings Cup semi-finals or the Shield semi-finals.
Meath will play wicklow next week, while Leitrim, who beat wicklow in round one, must face Offaly. A win for Leitrim and Meath will leave three teams tied on four points and then scoring difference will come into play - this 10-point win will do Meath's prospects of progression in the cup no harm at all.

Meath - Adam McDermott (Dunshaughlin); James Reilly (Gaeil Colmcille), Conor Harnan (Moynalvey), Eoin Green (Skryne); Brian McGrath (Simonstown), Brían Conlon (Simonstown), Cian O'Reilly (Carnaross); Sean Noonan (Seneschalstown), Ethan Devine (Na Fianna); Jason Scully (Odcastle), Darragh Campion (Skryne), Eamon Mac Donnachadh (Clann na nGael); Conor Moriarty (Curraha 2-1), David McLoughlin (Moynalvey 1-3 two frees), Thomas O'Reilly (Wolfe Tones 0-6 two frees). Subs - Cathal McConnell (Bective) for Mac Donnachadh, Eoin Smyth (Skryne) for Scully, Sean Reilly (Moylagh0-1) for Harnan all half-time, James Mooney (Meath Hill) for C O'Reilly 49 mins, Fionn Reilly (Gaeil Colmcille) for Moriarty, David McEntee (Dunboyne 0-1 free) for Campion both 54m, Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch (Wolfe Tones) for Noonan, Podge McGowan (Slane 0-1 free) for T O'Reilly, Dylan Brady (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for McLoughlin all 57m, Padraig Diamond (Wolfe Tones) for Devine 58m.

Leitrim - D Maxwell; P Dolan, D Mulvey, F Rooney; O Madden, D Feely, D Bruen; K Keegan, D McGovern; J Heslin, C Gaffney (0-1), F Flynn (0-1); L Murphy (0-1), C Cullen (0-1), D Rooney (0-9 five frees). Subs - R O'Rourke (0-1) for Keegan half-time, P Reynolds for F Rooney 37 mins, P Dolan for Murphy 49m, D mcCabe for Mulvey 52m.

Referee - Noel Hand (Louth).