Meath relinquish u-21 title
From start to finish Kerry were clearly the better team as they relieved Meath of their All-Ireland u-21 B HC title with a comprehensive 1-23 to 1-9 semi-final victory at Thurles this afternoon.
The 14-point margin of defeat is harsh on Meath because they were better than their scoring return suggests, but Kerry's goal from the final puck of the game added gloss to their already impressive tally.
Following the quarter-final win over Mayo Meath manager Steven Forde spoke about the lack of preparation his side had for this championship and that lack of cohesion and fluidity was evident from early on against a well-drilled and physically superior Kerry that rarely looked like slipping up.
Despite playing into the teeth of a strong wind Kerry found it easier to create scoring chances while the Meath attack struggled to break down the Kingdom's rearguard with enough frequency to build up an momentum.
The opening 19 minutes was littered with poor shooting from both sides as they hit 11 wides between them in that spell with Eamonn Mac Donnachadha's goal separating them at then end of the opening quarter.
Kerry had opened the scoring in the fourth minute from a Shane Conway free after Luke Moran picked up a yellow card for catching Conway with the hurl in the face guard.
Conor Kearney responded with a free for Meath, but the hugely impressive Michael O'Leary hit the first score from play in the ninth minute to give Kerry the edge again.
Seconds later Mac Donnachadha had the ball in the net following Charlie Ennis's long puck out, but instead of inspiring the Royals they hit wide after wide and Kerry did likewise.
In the 17thminute Ross Ryan struck the butt of the post from close range under heavy pressure from Billy Lyons, but two minutes later he executed an excellent turn and shot over to stretch Meath's lead to 1-2 to 0-2.
Then Kerry started to find their range. O'Leary led the charge with an excellent score from Conway's clever sideline and almost immediately Conway converted a free from 20 metres to close the gap to the minimum.
Ennis denied Conway a goal with a smart stop, but Meath failed to clear their lines and Tomas O'Connor popped over an equaliser eight minutes before the break.
Kearney restored Meath's lead temporarily, but the run in to half-time belong to Kerry as three points for O'Leary, two for Conway (one free) and one for John Buckley put them in the driving seat with Kearney's second free leaving Meath 1-4 to 0-11 adrift at the break.
A Kearney free closed the gap to three points within 40 seconds of the restart and Meath hinted they might muster a rally, but they managed just one more point in the next 19 minutes as Kerry kept the scoreboard ticking over with some excellent scores.
Poor defending and an inability to deal with the long ball saw the Meath rearguard gift two more points to Conway before Mark Slevin pointed brilliantly despite being fouled in the process to make it 1-6 to 0-13.
Kerry continued to pile on the pressure and the scores with Eoin Ross pointing two enormous scores from distance. Ross Ryan tested Stephen Murphy with a low drive, but the Kerry 'keeper was equal to it to keep his side's lead intact.
Ronan Donovan and Barry O'Sullivan stretched Kerry's lead to 0-17 to 1-9 by the 40thminute as Meath went in search of the goals that might drag them back into contention.
Mikey Cullen went close with a long range shot, but again Murphy saved and from a 20-metre free Dara Kelly drove at the forest of defenders on the line and his shot was cleared.
The closing quarter was academic. Both sides emptied their benches, but it was Kerry who continued to maintain momentum with a Conway '65'.
Kelly (free) and Mac Donnachadha ended Meath's long barren spell with points in quick succession, but Kerry replied emphatically with three more frees from Conway making it 0-21 to 1-8.
Substitute Peter Farrell closed the Meath scoring two minutes from time, but there was still time for O'Leary and Ross to add points to Kerry's tally before John Hussey's goal poured more agony on Meath's already disappointing day.
Meath - Charlie Ennis (Trim); Conor McNally (Kiltale), Iarla Hughes (Kiltale), Ronan Ryan (Kiltale); Peter Slevin (Na Fianna), Dara Kelly (Ratoath 0-1 free)), John McCluskey (Na Fianna); Luke Moran (Trim), Mark Slevin (Na Fianna 0-1); Josh Wall (Drumree), Eamonn Mac Donnacha (Clann na nGael 1-1), Conor Kearney (Kildalkey 0-4 three frees); Ross Ryan (Kiltale 0-1), Mikey Cullen (Trim), Sean O'Hanrahan (Ratoath). Subs – James McNally (Kildalkey) for C McNally half-time, Peter Farrell (Trim 0-1) for Kearney 42 mins, Darragh Brogan (Clann na nGael) for M Slevin 50m, Stephen Gibbons (Boardsmill) for Wall 60m, Ben Rickard (Kildalkey) for Cullen 62m.
Kerry – Stephen Murphy; Stevie O'Sullivan, Darragh Shanahan, Billy Lyons; Eoin Ross (0-3), Jason Diggins, Liam Mullins; Barry O'Sullivan (0-1), Tomas O'Connor (0-1); John Buckley (0-1), Michael O'Leary (0-6), Jordan Brick; Maurice O'Connor, Shane Conway (0-10 six frees, one '65'), Ronan Donovan (0-1). Subs – Brandon Barrett for Brick 42 mins, Jack Lenihan for Donovan 46m, Adrian O'Mahony for Lyons, Darragh Ryan for M O'Connor both 58m, John Hussey (1-0) for Buckley 60m.
Referee – Tony Carroll (Offaly).