Meath on course for silverware
Shortly before Rathmolyon's Jack Fagan sought - in vain as it turned out - to win an All-Ireland SHC medal with Waterford, another player of the same name played his part in helping Meath win the Peadar O Liathain Cup semi-final 3-20 to 1-10 at Aughrim today.
The Jack Fagan who lined out for Meath minors is from the Dunderry club and took his place between the posts for the Royal County against the Garden County.
He what he had to do efficiently but in truth he spent large chunks of this game untroubled by the home side who struggled to build up a head of steam.
Apart from a very brief spell early on Meath led all the way at one of the best known grounds in Wicklow GAA, building on an 0-11 to 0-3 half-time lead to give them the platform to go on and win the game.
Despite having the wind behind them in the second-half Wicklow never looked like over-taking the visitors in this picturesque part of the country.
With their ability to win breaking ball in midfield and take chances from all sorts of distances Meath sustained their advantage in the second-half with the help of goals from Josh Harris, Jack Meagher and Eoghan Grehan.
Joey Cole, the won of Trim manager Neil Cole, had a big influence on the game with his general play and the way he stoked over six points from frees some of them from long range, was indeed impressive.
Meagher was Meath's main marksman with 1-3 while Ryan Byas also capped a fine display with three excellent points from play.
Rory Fagan, Meagher, Shaun Donnelly, Harris and Simon Cunningham were others to fire over for Meath who now face Down in the final of the competition next weekend.
Another player to fire over for the young Royals was Justin Coyne who slotted over a second-half point to cap a man-of-the-match display.
Wicklow's main dangerman was Gavin Rockford who got his team's only goal but they needed a few more of them to knock Meath off course.
In extra-time Wicklow had Eoin Byrne sent off but the game was effectively over at that late stage.
SCORERS
Meath - Jack Meagher 1-3; Josh Harris 1-2; Joey Cole 0-6 frees; Eoghan Grehan 1-0; Ryan Byas 0-3; Rory Fagan 0-3; Simon Cunningham 0-1; Shaun Donnelly 0-1; Justin Coyne 0-1.
Wicklow - Gavin Rochford 1-4 two frees, one '65'; Eoin Byrne 0-5 two frees; Bill O'Brien 0-1 free.
TEAMS
Meath - Jack Fagan ; Robert Ennis , Harry Cottrell, Evan Cole; Peter Connolly, Justin Coyne, Paddy Barnwell; Joey Cole, Eoghan Grehan; Ryan Byas, Jack Meagher, Shaun Donnelly; Rory Fagan, Josh Harris, Simon Cunningham. Subs - Christopher O'Gorman for Barnwell 28 mins, Dennis Darby for Donnelly 46m, Ciaran Rogers for Cunningham 49m, Eoin Donegan for E Cole 57m, Liam Callanan for Harris 58m.
Wicklow - M Cleary; C Chamney, D Byrne, S Arthur; C Harmon, T Collins, F Downey; R Martin, J Ryan; S Gough, C Cruise, TJ O'Neill; B O'Brien, G Rochford, E Byrne. Subs - A Brennan for Arthur 41 mins, J O'Brien for Chamney 56m.
Referee - Padraig Dunne (Laois).