Meath edged out at semple stadium
Meath's bid for the All-Ireland u-21 B HC title fell short this evening at Semple Stadium, Thurles when they were edged out by Wicklow in a high-scoring contest that was the curtainraiser for the u-21 decider between Limerick and Wexford.
Meath were well in contention at half-time after they enjoyed periods of dominance despite have to deploy Jack Regan at centre-back due to the unavailability of Dunboyne's Sean McGrath who sustained an injury with his club two weeks ago.
Meath enjoyed sufficient first-half possession to lead at the interval, but they trailed by the minimum (1-8 to 1-9) due mainly to a tally of seven wides – chances that should have produced some scores, Meath increased that wide tally to 13 in the second-half and it was costly.
Each side registered a penalty goal in the fiinal minute of the half with Jack Regan converting from the 20-metre line for Meath and Gavin Weir replying about 30 seconds later after Luke Rickard was penalised for an infringement.
Regan made a valuable contribution with three points (one free) and that penalty goal while Martyn (two), Jack Fagan, Gavin McGowan and Sean Quigley completed Meath's first-half tally.
Wicklow showed great resolve to stay in the game early on and then forge ahead close to the interval.
Weir, from a '65' and a free, Anthony Byrne and Marc Lennon (two each), Cian O'Byrne, Diarmuid Masterson and Daniel Staunton accounted for the Wicklow points, but it also took a superb double save from Charlie Bird to deny Weir and then O'Byrne a goal in the 28th minute.
Wicklow laid the foundations for victory after the resumption with some excellent scores which included a goal from full-forward Padraig Doyle that helped them to 2-14 to 1-10 lead by the end of the third-quarter with Martyn and McGowan on the mark for Meath.
However, Meath kept battling and dominated the final quarter (they out-scored Wicklow by 1-5 to 0-3) but it wasn't enough on this occasion. Regan scored 1-4 of that tally with Martyn adding the other point.
Meath - Charlie Bird (Boardsmill); David Conneely (Kildalkey), Luke Rickard (Kildalkey), Colm McGrath (Trim); Conor O'Shea Dunderry), Shane Whitty (Blackhall Gaels)), Eamon Ryan (Kiltale); Luke Martyn (Dunderry 0-4), Stefan Kelly (Killyon); Jack Fagan (Rathmolyon 0-1), Jack Regan (Kiltale 2-7 penalty goal, two frees), James Andrews (Trim); Gavin McGowan (Ratoath 0-2), Fergal Flattery (Boardsmill), Sean Quigley (Dunboyne 0-1). Subs – Sean Doyle (Kilmessan) for Flattery 40 mins, Conor Shirren (Kiltale) for Ryan 49m.
Wicklow – R Fitzgerald; S O'Callaghan, J Doyle, E Byrne; L Maloney, D Staunton (0-1), D Henderson; D Masterson (0-2), M Lennon (0-3); G Weir (1-3), A Byrne (0-5), P Doran; J Byrne (0-1), P Doyle (1-0), C O'Byrne (0-1). Subs – D Lohan for Weir and J Cranley (0-1) for O'Byrne both 48m, A Kavanagh for Byrne 54m.
Referee – David Hughes (Carlow).