Meath win in Celtic Challenge
Meath recorded their first win in the u-17 Celtic Challenge (hurling) last night against Westmeath at Cusack Park, Mullingar where they won by 1-15 to 1-12 with the hosts picking up a bonus point as they lost by less than five points.
Westmeath got off to a flying start with five points from midfielder Eoin Fox before Daragh Gilmartin's goal got Meath back into contention, but a goal from Sean Rock just before half-time helped Westmeath to a 1-10 to 1-7 interval advantage.
Meath increased their work-rate on the restart and with the aid of a slight breeze clawed their way back to parity.
Both defenses were on top and the game remained in the balance until the last 10 minutes when Jamie Leavy pointed a sideline cut from the stand side and this seemed to inspire Meath to drive on.
Further points from Leavy, Conor Hayes, and Evan Fitzgerald were enough to secure victory.
Meath - Aaron Dunne; Sean Coffey, Brian O'Reilly, Brin Kelly; Jamie Connolly, Jacob Ryan, Evan Fitzgerald (0-1); MIkey Mullen (0-1), Darren Hennessey (0-1); Sean Martin (0-3), Tom Fadden, Conor O'Farrell; Brian Dowling (0-4), Jamie Leavy (0-2), Daragh Gilmartin (1-2). Subs (rolling subs allowed) - Evan Buckley, Evan Brennan, Conor Hayes (0-1), John Mitchell, Cormac Butler, Nicky Potterton, John Morris, Pierce Butler, Mark Hatton, Sean Hogan, Gavin O'Keeffe, Oisin Coffey, Alex Power ORourke, Robert Noone, Adam Murphy.
Westmeath - Brian McHugh; Ryan Moore, Antony Fagan, Charles Flynn; Padraig Kane, Adam Ennis (0-1), Fiachra Heeney; Leon Broderick, Eoin Fox(0-5); Jamie Fitzgerald, Conor McKeogh, Eoin Commins (0-2); Shane Broughan, Ciaran O'Brien (0-4), Sean Rock(1-0). Subs - Michael Carroll, Conor Shaw, Luke Dalton, Jordan Williams, Nathan Mullens, Dean Thornton, Eanna Burke, Callum Ryan