Meath into Christy Ring Cup final
Meath won an exciting Christy Ring Cup semi-final to qualify for the decider for the first time with a 1-21 to 0-21 victory over Kildare at Newbridge this afternoon.
Meath made the best of the chance.s they created in the opening half as they established a hard-earned 1-10 to 0-11 interval advantage as it turned into a mini-shoot-out between James Toher and Kildare's Gerry Keegan.
Toher claimed seven points for Meath (six frees) with Gavin McGowan (two) and Stephen Morris also on target. McGowan rifled to the net for Meath in the 20th minute and at that stage the Royals were ahead by 1-7 to 0-4 and Kildare had jost lost Paul Divilly to a straight red card.
Keegan's ability to convert frees sustained Kildare – the Celbridge man sent over six frees and claimed one from pla with Mark delaney, Jonathan Byrne, Philip Cocoman and Martin Fitzgerald also splitting the posts.
The second-half was a gripping encounter with the extra man making a substantial difference as Meath did enough to hold on for victory with Toher adding five points, Steven Clynch claimed three while Sean Heavey, McGowan and Neil Heffernan on target.
There was also a number of crucial saves by Shane McGann.
Meath – Shane McGann (Kiltale); Cormac Reilly (Navan O’Mahonys), David Donoghue (Kiltale), Shane Whitty (Blackhall Gaels); Shane Brennan (Kilmessan), Damien Healy (Longwood), Keith Keoghan (Killyon); Sean Heavey (Kildalkey 0-1), Stephen Morris (Blackhall Gaels 0-1); James Toher (Trim 0-12 seven frees), Joey Keena (Kilmessan), Adam Gannon (Killyon); Gavin McGowan (Ratoath 1-3), Neil Heffernan (Trim 0-1), Steven Clynch Kilmessan 0-3).
Subs – Ronan Sherlock (Silvermines) for Whitty 14 mins, Sean Geraghty (Kilskyre) for Keena half-time, Kevin Keena (Kilmessan) for Heffernan 52m, Sean Quigley (Dunboyne) for Reilly 65m.
Kildare – P Dermody; R Bergin, J Doran, C Gordon; S Gainey, M Moloney, M Grace (0-1); M Fitzgerald (0-2), N O Muineachain; P Cocoman (0-1), P Divilly, L Quinn (0-1); M Delaney (0-2), G Keegan (0-12 eight frees, one ‘65’), J Byrne (0-1).
Subs – J Sheridan for Cocoman half-time, P Ryan for Gainey 47m, B Byrne for Quinn 57m.
Referee – John Keane (Galway).
VIDEO: Post-match reaction to the Christy Ring Cup semi-final victory for Meath - live on Facebook after the game.