Meath are sunk by Lake County exuberance

The unpredictability of sport. Don't you just have to love it. Or maybe not if you are a member of the Meath camogie team.

The Royals enjoyed the kind of start to their All-Ireland Intermediate campaign that was exemplary, almost perfect with a big win over Laois and a shock victory over Kerry.

Then today just when it looked like they were building up a real head of steam their ambitions were derailed - at least for the moment.

A win in Raharney's spendid home ground would have given Brendan Skehan's seemingly in-form side a very good chance of securing a semi-final place.

Now instead they have to face a potenitally treacherous quarter-final tie. Victors of the Lake County in the league, Meath just couldn't raise a sustained gallop today.

Their prospects looked distinctly promising at the interval when they 'only' trailed by 2-5 to 2-7 but they had the enticing, encouraging prospect of the breeze helping them out in the second-half. Maybe not directly but a help nonetheless as it seemed to blow into a corner Westmeath were defending.

Instead of pushing on Meath battled in vain to gain any traction. They really struggled and only managed to add two more points to their account, one from a '45' scored by Grace Coleman, the other from a free converted by Aoife Minogue.

The Meath defence struggled all evening to come to terms with the jinking, weaving runs of Hannah Core. She helped herself to 3-1 over the course of the game with Denise McGrath grabbing a fourth late on after the Meath defence go in a muddle.

The Royals did have a decent enough spell mid way through the opening half with some concerted, inventive play awarded with a goal. Claire Coffey, Maggie Randell, Leah Devine and Minogue were all involved in working the ball forward close to the Westmeath posts. Step forward Ciara Foley. She applied a sublime finish to the net. It was a brilliant move, a super finish.

Westmeath's response emphatic. They worked two quick-fire goals from Core.

Meath's Foley got a real goal-poacher's strike soon after neatly finding the net after a surging Aoife Minogue run to give the Royals renewed hope going into the interval. Such hope was to prove illusionary.

Try as they might Meath simply weren't able to push on as Westemeath, who were physicall imposing but in a completely legitimate way, continued to add to their account in the second-half with McGrath's goal a real killer.

SCORERS

Westmeath - Hannah Core 3-1; Denise McGrath 1-1; Megan Dowdall 0-4 frees; Sheila McGrath 0-2; Caoimhe McCrossan 0-1; Maria Kelly 0-1; Amelia Shaw 0-1.

Meath - Ciara Foley 2-1; Grace Coleman 0-4 one free, one '45''; Aoife Minogue 0-1; Abbye Donnelly 0-1.

TEAMS

Westmeath - Fiona Keating; Karen Gaffney, Julie McLoughlin, Emily McCabe; Aoife Doherty, Megan Dowdall, Laura Doherty; Aoife O'Malley, Muireann Scally; Sheila McGrath, Caoimhe McCrossan, Hannah Core; Maria Kelly, Denis McGrath, Amelia Shaw. Sub - Elaine Finn for McGrath 58 mins.

Meath - Maggie Randell; Sophia Payne, Claire Coffey, Rachel O'Neill; Tracy King, Ellen Buke, Leah Devine; Grace Coleman, Aoife Minogue; Amy Gaffney, Aoibhinn Lally, Olivia O'Halloran; Ciara Foley, Aoife Carey, Abbye Donnelly. Subs - Emma O'Connell for Carey 35 mins, Meave Clince for Devine 46m, Sonia Leonard for Gaffney 49m, Cliodhna O'Riordan for Coleman 54m, Niamh Daly for O'Halloran 58m.

Referee - Paul O'Neill (Antrim).