Royals dominate in Dr Cullen Park

Cathal O Bric's Meath cruised to the finish line in their Leinster u-20 FC opener.

Meath 5-3-13 (34)

Carlow 2-1-7 (15)

Cathal O Bric’s Meath got their Leinster u-20 FC campaign off to the perfect start with a comfortable victory over Carlow on Wednesday in Dr Cullen Park.

In truth, the result never looked in doubt as the Royals dispatched of their opponents with ease. There was a nine-minute period just before half-time where the home side registered 2-2. Apart from that short blip, Meath dominated proceedings.

Cian Commons' fantastic strike for a two-pointer after three minutes ignited Meath and after only five minutes they led by five points. Commons then got on the end of a brilliant move that saw Meath find the back of the net. A second goal followed from John Harkin and after 20 minutes, Meath led by 2-10 to 0-2.

Complacency set in slightly just before the break and defending was slack for Carlow's two goals but at half-time the Royals still led 2-11 to 2-4. Soon after the restart, Harkin’s second goal and Meath’s third soon put the result beyond doubt and from there the Royals cruised to the finish line.

Adam Ducie was introduced from the bench and the Ratoath man bagged a late brace of goals. Stephen Cahill, who is in his first year of u-20, was outstanding for O Bric’s side and finished with a nice tally of four points.

Commons' early orange flag was followed by nice points from Ben Corkery, Cormac O’Donoghue and Cahill as Meath led 0-5 to 0-0 after five minutes. Carlow got off the mark through Mark Buggy before John Harkin set up Corkery who then struck a brilliant two-pointer from the terrace side at Carlow’s county grounds.

Meath then started to really put the squeeze on Carlow’s kick-outs which in turn forced several turnovers. Between the 15th and the 19th minute, the Royals scored 2-3 and the first goal was very special. Finn Moore’s kick out was brilliantly fielded by Michael McIvor who then played a beautifully weighted pass into Commons. Commons produced an excellent finish to the back of the Carlow net.

McIvor’s midfield partner Paul Hennessey then set up Harkin for Meath’s second goal before McIvor raised an orange flag. Cormac Smith contributed with a nice point which put Meath ahead by 13 points after 20 minutes.

Meath were effectively home and hosed already but some complacency crept in slightly. Carlow's two goals on the c,usp of half-time scored by Daniel Bolger and Jake Nolan were from a defensive perspective, avoidable. At the break Carlow still held a glimmer of hope as they trailed 2-4 to 2-11.

That hope was quickly dashed five minutes into the second-half when a Cahill point was followed up by Harkin’s second goal to which Cahill played a significant role in the build-up. Two points from Cahill and one from Commons kept Meath ticking over and at the end of the third quarter the Royals led by 3-16 to 2-5.

Nolan provided the home side with their only orange flag but that score was quickly cancelled out by a brace of Harkin frees. One minute after being introduced from the bench, Ducie got on the end of a nice move and finished to the back of the net from short range.

Buggy and Nolan completed Carlow’s tally with two points in quick succession before Ducie bagged his second goal and Meath’s fifth with a fantastic finish. Harkin wrapped up proceedings with a point and soon after the final whistle confirmed a victory for Meath that never really looked in doubt.

Meath - Finn Moore; Cllian Yore, Sam Jordan, Shane Callaghan; Cormac Smith (0-1), Colin Scanlon, Kyle O’Brien; Michael McIvor (0-2 two-pointer), Paul Hennessey; Eoin McCrudden, John Harkin (2-5 three frees), Stephen Cahill (0-4); Ben Corkery (0-3 one two-pointer), Cian Commons (1-3 one two-pointer), Cormac O’Donoghue (0-1). Subs - Adam Ducie (2-0) for O’Donoghue 43m, Conor McEntee for McCrudden, John Gormley for Scanlon both 46m, Sean Delaney for Commons, Sean Betson for O’Brien both 56m.

Carlow - Conal McGuire; Sean Walsh, Ross Moran, Daire Byrne; Ryan Donnolly-Finn, Eoin Myers, Rory McCaffrey; Ben Curry, Callum Crawford; Daniel Bolger (1-0), Jake Nolan (1-5 one two-pointer), Fiach Byrne; Jamie Coakley, Ian Craddock, Mark Buggy (0-4 two frees). Subs - Marc Mullhall for Donnolly-Finn, Brian Maher for Craddock both 44m, Jacob Curran for Jamie Coakley, Lorcan O’Connor for Byrne both 53m, Eoin Ryan for Buggy 57m.

Referee - Stephen Fagan (Wicklow).