Eamonn O Donnchadha surges clear of a Carlow opponent

Carlow pile on the pain

In a low-wattage performance that leaves their management team with plenty to think about ahead of their McDonagh Cup campaign Meath suffered a humiliating 0-17 to 5-28 defeat against Carlow in the NHL Div 2A at Pairc Tailteann today.

The game was effectively over at the interval when the home team trailed 0-9 to 3-15. Arguably it was over after 23 minutes when the score stood at 2-10 to 0-5.

Nothing went right for Meath who struggled to deal with the pace of the Carlow players. The Meath defence in particular had a torrid afternoon as Carlow cut through for a series of scores sometimes, it seemed, at will.

Jack Regan was Meath's main marksman with five points, four frees, while Padraic O'Hanrahan hit four points, all frees. The only players to get more than one point from play for the leagured home side were Alan Douglas and Keith Keoghan who each notched two points apiece. James Kelly, Eamonn O Donnchadha, Adam Gannon and Mark O'Sullivan also pointed for the forlorn Royals.

Carlow's Marty Kavanagh ended up with 1-12, eight frees while Kevin McDonnell scored two goals while Chris Nolan and John Michael Nolan also found the net in this one-sided encounter that held little cheer for those in the Meath hurling fraternity who had to sit through the dispiriting spectacle.

SCORERS

Carlow - Marty Kavanagh 1-12, eight frees, two '65s'; Kevin McDonnell 2-0; John Michael Nolan 1-3; Chris Nolan 1-5; Ger Coady 0-1; Richie Coady 0-1; Ted Joyce 0-1; James Doyle 0-1; John Nolan 0-1; Craig Wall 0-1; Paul Coady 0-1; Tony Lawlor 0-1.

Meath - Jack Regan 0-5 four frees; Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-4 frees; Keith Keoghan 0-2; Alan Douglas 0-2; James Kelly 0-1; Adam Gannon 0-1; Mark O'Sullivan 0-1; Eamonn O' Donnchadha 0-1.

TEAMS

Carlow - Brian Treacy; Dion Wall, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; David English, Ger Coady, Richie Coady; Jack Kavanagh, Kevin McDonnell; John Michael Nolan, Ted Joyce, James Doyle; Marty Kavanagh, John Nolan, Chris Nolan. Subs - Craig Wall for Joyce half-time; Tony Lawlor for Kavanagh, Paul Coady for J M Nolan both 52 mins, Ciaran Kavanagh for M Kavanagh, Gary Lawlor for R Coady both 60m, Gary Ennis for M Doyle, Aaron Almond for English both 64m.

Meath - Charlie Ennis; Darragh Kelly, Shane Whitty, Sean Geraghty; James Kelly, James Toher, Keith Keoghan; Shane Brennan, David Reilly; Daithi McGowan, Jack Regan, Alan Douglas; Adam Gannon, Mark O'Sullivan, Paddy Conneely. Subs - Eamonn O Donnchadha for McGowan, Padraic O'Hanrahan for Reilly both half-time; Cian Rogers for Conneely, Stephen Morris for Keoghan, Ben McGowan for Geraghty all 45 mins, Ger Murphy for D Kelly, Ian Bermingham for Regan both 53m.

Referee - Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly)