Meath exit Kehoe Cup and finish with 13 men

Meath exited the Kehoe Cup today at Kinnegad where the finished with 13 men and lost by 12 points (1-13 to 1-25) against Westmeath.

The windy conditions favoured Westmeath in the opening half and the hosts made the best possible use of the conditions as they dominated the opening 35 minutes.

Meath also failed to score from play in the first-half as they laboured to contain a lively Westmeath outfit.

Meath's seventh minute penalty goal came from Na Fianna's Barry Slevin who also converted a brace of frees with Jack Regan adding another point (free) close to the interval.

MEATH'S PENALTY GOAL FROM BARRY SLEVIN

Niall Mitchell sent over five pointed frees while Killian Doyle (four), Allan Devine (three), Joey Boyle (two), Darragh Clinton, Conor Shaw and Shane Power also found it easy to hit the target. Westmeath also tallied eight wides.

Meath manager Nick Fitzgerald made nine changes at half-time and wind-assisted Meath made a positive start to the second-half.

The Royals got back into contention as Regan sent over five (four frees) points with John O'Sullivan also on target. 

Westmeath managed a pointed free each from Mitchell and Doyle, but they were beginning to look vulnerable towards the end of the third-quarter with the lead reduced to seven points (0-19 to 1-9).

At that stage Mitchell claimed a superb goal and Meath lost Damien Healy to a straight red card after a challenge that forced Westmeath's Aaron Craig out of the game.
Soon after Ger Murphy picked up two yellow cards and that was the useful part of the game over for both teams.

See next edition of Meath Chronicle for Meath's first-half and second-half teams and reaction from Manager Nick Fitzgerald.

FIXTURE SCHEDULE

SUNDAY 27th JANUARY 
Ballina - Mayo v Meath, NHL Div 2A.
SUNDAY 3rd FEBRUARY
Navan - Meath v Antrim, NHL Div 2A.
SATURDAY 16th FEBRUARY
Navan - Meath v London, NHL Div 2A, 1pm.
SUNDAY 24th FEBRUARY
Mullingar - Westmeath v Meath, NHL Div 2A.
SUNDAY 3rd MARCH
Killarney - Kerry v Meath, NHL Div 2A
SATURDAY 11th MAY
Christy Ring Cup - Meath v London.
SATURDAY 18th MAY
Christy Ring Cup - Kildare v Meath.
SATURDAY 1st JUNE
Christy Ring Cup - Roscommon v Meath.