Heartbreak for Meath as Lake County claim points

There was heartbreak for Meath as they lost out to Westmeath by the narrowest of margins, 1-18 to 1-19 against Westmeath in the NHL Div 2A at Trim today. 

This was a close encounter throughout with Meath ahead 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval and looking like they might push on from there. 

However, they shipped a big blow on 54 minutes when John Gilligan broke through for a Westmeath goal and put his side 1-14 to 0-14 in front. 

Jack Regan registerd 1-12 for Meath to cap an excellent display with his goal coming in injury time from a penalty. The composed Kiltale man drove the ball low to the net from the penalty after Alan Douglas was fouled. 

Westmeath led 1-19 to 0-17 before Regan finished the scoring with 1-1, with his goal coming from the penalty, and he was very unlucky not to get an equalising point deep into injury time when he shot narrowly wide from a long-range free. Alan Douglas (two), Jams Toher, James Kelly, Colm O Mealoid and Adam Gannon were others get on the scoresheet for the home side. 

Derek McNicholas and Ciaran Doyle caused big problems for Meath on a sunny afternoon in Trim with the game played before a sizeable crowd. However the home players and supporters were bitterly disappointed with the one-point defeat. Meath paid the price for wasting some good chances especially in the opening half. Now Kerry awaits. 

See analysis, match report and reaction in this week's Meath Chronicle