Uninspiring Meath well beaten by blooming Lilywhites
Royals trail from start to finish in Kehoe Cup clash
The Meath hurlers were out doing their warm up routine in the murk and gloom that pervaded over Dunganny about an hour before today's Kehoe Cup clash with Kildare.
By the time the game got underway the murky conditions had cleared slightly but Meath soon got lost in the whirlwind of scores whipped up by Kildare - and it was they who deservedly pushed on to claim the trophy on a 2-24 to 0-18 scoreline.
This was a worrying, dispiriting, low-wattage, display by the Seoirse Bulfin's side ahead of a new NHL campaign. Worrying because Meath looked out of sorts in so many aspects of the game.
They were outmuscled, out-thought, out-ran, out-passed by a much more imposing Kildare side who could also afford to spurn the possibility of a goal from a penalty (saved brilliantly by Meath 'keeper Charlie Ennis) and still win with ease.
Kildare resembled a thoroughbred out in front of the field in the closing furlongs of the Derby in the Curragh - dominant and unstoppable.
The Royal County needed to win this game by more than 16 points to lay claim to the sizeable piece of silverware.
To turn that lofty ambition into reality the home side required a bright start. They certainly didn't get that. Instead they conceded a goal in the opening minutes scored by Declan Flaherty and struggled to impose themselves from then on.
They were behind 0-10 to 2-14 at the break. They needed a good second-half but if anything they were even more out-muscled, out-smarted in the second stanza and deservedly lost out.
The team in green and gold were really dealth a heavy blow when they conceded a second goal scored by Brian Byrne after 16 minutes. Byrne sliced through a gaping gap in the home defence before firing part Ennis who had no chance. That left it 2-7 to 0-4 and even at that early stage Meath were in dire trouble.
Meath conceded far too many frees and with a player like James Burke around they were always going to pay a high price for that weakness. Burke ended up with 13 points, 11 frees, and he also had that late penalty saved by Ennis.
The nearest any Meath player came to Burke's tally was Podge O'Hanrahan who lofted over five points, four frees.
One of the very few bright spots from this Meath performance was the fact that Jack Regan came on as a second-half substitute. Earlier in the week manager Bulfin had feared he might miss the opening two or three games of the NHL but he has recovered from groin injury quicker than expected.
James Toher was conspicious by his absence but he was rested as a precaution ahead of the league, manager Bulfin informed the Meath Chronicle.
When the NHL Div 2B campaign does get underway next weekend Meath -on the evidence of this lacklusture display - will need all hands on deck.
Unless there is a big improvement Meath could struggle in their first outing against Wicklow next weekend. A big step up is needed.
Eamon Og O Donnchadha was one of the players who showed up well for the home side today firing over three points, a decent return because the supply into the full-forward was patchy and intermittent.
Kyle Donnelly scored a monster point while Pa Ryan, Damien Healy, Simon Ennis and Nicky Potterton also fired between the posts over the hour.
Potterton was given a roving role charged with picking up ball around midfield and pushing on. He performed his duties with typical energy and drive. His score from play late in the opening half finished off the best Meath move of the day.
Brendan McKeon, Simon Ennis and Martin Healy were involved in working the ball up the field. Potterton applied the finishing touch with considerable finesse.
Pa Ryan and Stephen Morris delivered some neat passes over the course of the game but in the second-half Meath struggled to win ball around midfield.
McKeon gave a Meath 'Man of the Match' display while Sean Geraghty also picked up plenty of possession at the back. At times however, Meath were badly exposed and the management will also need to look at that ahead of the Wicklow game.
All in all not a good day for Bulfin or his Meath team who were way off the pace for much of this lunch time start.
Meath will be among the favourites to win the NHL Div 2B but a considerable improvement on this display will be needed if such an ambition is to be realised.
TEAMS
Kildare - Paddy McKenna; Niall O Muineachain, Sean Christanseen, Simon Leacy; Jack Travers (0-1), Rian Boran, Cian Shanahan; Paul Dolan (0-3), Cathal McCabe (0-1); Johnny Byrne (0-1), Gerry Keegan (0-2), James Burke (0-13, 11 frees); Brian Byrne (1-1), Declan Flaherty (1-1), Killian Aherne. Subs - Cormac Byrne for Aherne, Cian Boran (0-1) for Dolan, David Qualtar for Christanseen all 44 mins, Conan Boran for Keegan 45m, Frank Bass for Flaherty 50m, Drew Costello for Leacy 58m, Michael Hogan for Boran 61m.
Meath - Charlie Ennis; Gerard Dwane, Sean Geraghty, Brendan McKeon; Kyle Donnelly (0-1), James Kelly, Martin Healy; Stephen Morris, Pa Ryan (0-1); Damien Healy (0-2), Simon Ennis (0-1), Niall McLarnon; Nicky Potterton (0-1), Eamon Og O Donnchadha (0-3), Padraig O'Hanrahan (0-5 four frees). Subs - David Murtagh for Healy half-time, Daire Shine for McLarnon 49m, Jack Regan (0-4) for O'Hanrahan 52m, Shane Brennan for Ennis, Mike Cole for Potterton, Tomas Shine for Geraghty all 61m.
Referee - Ciaran Goff (Wicklow).