Setback for meaths hastings cup aspirations kerry and roscommon draw
There wasn't too much New Year joy for Meath's latest crop of u-21 footballers when they made the short trip to Kingscourt today for a first round Hastings Cup encounter against hosts Cavan and were 'roasted' on a bitterly cold day.
Meath lost by 13 points as a strong and impressive Cavan side won by 1-15 to 0-5 after leading by 0-6 to 0-1 at the interval.
Nobber's Sean Meade was Meath's lone first-half scorer as Cavan dictated in heavy conditions with Ryan Connolly (four), Niall Clerkin and Tom Hayes splitting the posts for the hosts.
Meath resumed smartly after the break and closed the gap to four points (0-3 to 0-7) with scores from Ruairi O Coileain and Shane McEntee.
Meath also produced some good passages of play out of defence (see short video clip of move that produced fifth point), but Cavan were way too strong and were worthy winners.
The Cavan goal arrived on the stroke of full-time when a high ball from Connolly deceived Cian Farnan and dropped under the crossbar.
Despite that goal, Farnan had a good game between the posts.
Meath will play Roscommon next Saturday in thes econd round at Ashbourne at 2pm while Cavan will travel to Emo in Laois to tackle Kerry.
Meath - C Farnan; R Blaney, D Ormsby, L Ferguson; K Traynor, S McEntee, B Harnan; G McGowan, C Doran; D Toner, C Rooney, R O Coileain; C O Griofa, S Lenihan, S Meade. Subs - J Hannigan, N Lyons, M Flood, J Daly, O Reilly.
Cavan - D Donoghue; J Carney, M McGee, F Reilly; G Smith, A Watson, J Leddy; K Monahan, K Brady; N Clerkin, C Madden, J McCabe; C Bradley, T Hayes, R Connolly. Subs - E Somerville, B Fortune, C Maguire, A Graham, B McGee, C Reilly.
Kerry tackled Roscommon iin the competition today at Gort and the game ended in a draw, Kerry 0-13, Roscommon 1-10.
Meath played Roscommon in last year's Hastings Cup final with the Connacht men claiming the silverware.
TEAM P W D L F A Pts
Cavan 1 1 0 0 18 5 2
Kerry 1 0 1 0 13 13 1
Roscommon 1 0 1 0 13 13 1
Meath 1 0 0 1 5 18 0
NEXT UP
SATURDAY 10th JANUARY (2.0)
Ashbourne - Meath v Roscommon
Emo - Kerry v Cavan