Newbridge exit for Meath in Leinster JFC
Meath exited the the Leinster JFC tonight at Newbridge when they were edged out by Kildare in Newbridge as they lost by eight points (1-12 to 2-17).
Kildare made the best possible start with two points from from Chris Fenner (one free) and one each by Adam Burke and Chris Healy in the opening seven minutes, but Meath settled and got into the game with Paddy Gilsenan and Daire Rowe (free) on target.
Kildare added another point when full-forward Shane O'Rourke sent over, but Meath then reeled off good points from Damien Carroll, Kevin Ross and Rowe (free) and a goal from wing-back Kevin Traynor for a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage at the end of the first-quarter.
Carroll looked certain to goal soon after, but Kildare defender Shane O'Hagan got his boot to the ball and the danger was cleared.
That gave the hosts a lift and they controlled the remainder of the half as they added points from Fenner (three), David Fitzpatrick and HealyMeath with Daniel Grehan finding the net after his first effort came back off the post.
Meath managed a solitary Rowe point and trailed by 1-6 to 1-10 at the interval.
Meath manager Sean Barry brought James Rooney on at half-time for full-back Ciaran McConnell with Aaron Newman going to that position as the teams traded early second-half points with Danny Quinn for Meath and Fenner replying for Kildare.
Meath closed the gap to two points on three occasions in the second-half, but they just couldn't get closer than that and Kildare forged clear in the closing stages with a late goal from Eoghan Boyle sealing victory.
Meath – Cian Farnan (St Ultan's); Jamie Reilly (St Michael's), Cian McConnell (Bective), Michael Flood (St Brigid's); Chris O'Connor (Ballinabrackey), Aaron Newman (Dunderry), Eoin Marsh (Dunsany); Ben Brennan (St Colmcille's), Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle), Damien Carroll (Ballinabrackey), Danny Quinn (Ballinabrackey); Kevin Ross (Castletown), Ciaran Lynch (St Michael's), Daire Rowe (Syddan). Subs – James Rooney (Metah Hill) for McConnell half-time, Alan Farrell (Nobber) for Marsh 38 mins, Darren Finney (Castletown) for Brennan 39m, Jamie Owens (Nobber) for Lynch, Ciaran Kelly (St Colmcille's) for Ross 55m, Michael Kearney (Ballinabrackey) for Reilly 59m.