Meath into bonus territory

Published: Sun 30 Jun 2013, 4:10 PM

Last updated: Sun 30 Jun 2013, 5:14 PM

Meath footballers moved into bonus territory following a tremendous 0-18 to 0-13 Leinster SFC semi-final victory against Wexford at Croke Park in the last hour.

Meath manager Mick O'Dowd stated that the prime target for 2013 was promotion from the NFL Div 3, but he would also have targeted a place in the Leinster decider and both those goals have been achieved.

Today at Croke Park Meath eased past Wexford with Kilmainham's Michael Newman enhancing his reputation as a free-taker by drilling nine of 11 frees over the bar.

Meath's performance improved as the game progressed although the Royals were adrift by 0-7 to 0-8 at the interval after they played second fiddle at midfield for most of the opening half.

Newman and Peadar Byrne (two each), Stephen Bray, Graham Reilly and Eamon Wallace accounted for Meath's first-half tally.

Wexford shaded those exchanges with Ciaran Lyng (three), Ben Brosnan (two), Adrian Flynn, PJ Banville and Brian Malone splitting the posts.

Wexford resumed smartly after the resumption with points from Brosnan and Malone, but they didn't score again until the beginning of the final quarter.

By that stage a Graham Reilly-inspired Meath were ahead by 0-12 to 0-10 with Newman converting three more frees and the St Colmcille's man pointing twice.

Wexford raised a late gallop, but they were running on empty by the end as the Royals dictated the closing stages with Newman (four), Bray and Reilly closing out the game.

Meath now await the winner of the second semi-final between Dublin and Kildare in the Leinster decider on Sunday 14th July at Croke Park.

Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Donal Keogan, Kevin Reilly, Bryan Menton; Padraic Harnan, Caoimhin King, Seamus kenny; Brian Meade, Conor Gillespie; Peadar Byrne (0-2), Damien Carroll, Graham Reilly (0-4); Eamon Wallace (0-1), Stephen Bray (0-2), Michael Newman (0-9 frees).

Subs - Ciaran Lenehan for King 40 mins, Joe Sheridan for Wallace 47m, Paddy Gilsenan for Byrne 51m, Andrew Tormey for Meade 59m, Brian McMahon for Reilly 70m.

Conall Collier