Antrim win well in Navan

Antrim dispensed a lesson to Meath in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh in Navan today as they recovered from a tentative opening quarter and hammered the hosts convincingly by 5-25 to 2-18,

Meath had early goals from Gavin McGowan and Alan Douglas as they produced a fluent opening quarter which gave them a 2-6 to 0-6 advantage despite facing a slight breeze.

Meath points during that period arrived from Jack Regan (three, two frees and a'65'), McGowan and Douglas while Antrim stayed in touch through a brace of points each from Conor Johnston and Neil McManus (frees), Conor Carson and Nigel Elliott.

Antrim had to raise the tempo to stay in the game and the fact that Meath managed only two more points for the half, Regan and McGowan, reflects the extra gears that the Ulster side found.

McManus was a constant threat with some probing runs and he tacked on three points (two frees), but it was the goal from Nigel Elliott that really ignited Antrim in the 21st minute following a fine solo run.

Donal McKInley also found his range with two points from play with Elliott, Joe Maskey and Michael Armstrong also splitting the posts for a deserved 1-14 to 2-8 interval advantage.

Antrim wrapped up the victory with a solid third-quarter that saw Elliott rifle two goals past Shane McCann after Johnston had found the net in the 45th minute.

Meath laboured for scores throughout the half and had no response to Antrim's physicality as the Royals managed eight points from Regan (six frees and a '65'), Sean Quigley and Paddy Conneely in what was a one-sided second-half.

Antrim added a late fifth goal from a Johnston penalty with the extra points sent over without too much difficulty by McManus (three frees), Johnston and McCrory (two each), Maskey, Elliott, Eoghan Campbell and Conor McCann.

Antrim - R Elliott; D Kearney, J Dillon, R McCambridge; P Burke, C McKinley, J Maskey (0-2); N Elliott (3-2), S McCrory (0-3); C Carson (0-1), C Johnston (2-4 ,1-0 penalty), N McManus (0-8, 0-6f); D McKinley (0-2), M Armstrong (0-1), E Campbell (0-1). Subs - C McCann (0-1) for Carson half-time, J McNaughton for Campbell 56 mins, S Rooney for Kearney 57 mins, M Donnelly for McCambridge 66 mins, E O'Neill for McKInley 67 mins. 

Meath - S McGann; N Weir, S Geraghty, S Morris; J Keena, D Healy, S Brennan; K Keoghan, A Gannon; J Kelly, C McCabe (0-1), E O Donnchadha; A Douglas (1-1), G McGowan (1-2), J Regan (0-12, 0-8 f, 0-2 '65'). Subs - P Conneely (0-1)for McGowan 30 mins, S Quigley (0-1) for Gannon and K Keena for O Donnchadha both 47 mins, C O Mealoid for McCabe 59 mins, 

Referee - Cathal McAllister (Cork).
 

NEXT UP
SUNDAY 6th MAY 
Carlow - Carlow v Kerry - first round
SATURDAY 12th MAY (3PM)
Belfast - Antrim v Carlow, Joe McDonagh Cup.
SUNDAY 13th MAY (3PM)
Mullingar - Westmeath v Meath, 1pm.
Tralee - Kerry v Laois.
SATURDAY 19th MAY (3PM)
Carlow - Carlow v Meath.
Cushendall - Antrim v Laois.
SUNDAY 20th MAY (3PM)
Tralee - Kerry v Westmeath.
SATURDAY 2nd JUNE (3PM)
Navan - Meath v Kerry.
Portlaoise - Laois v Carlow.
Mullingar - Westmeath v Antrim.
SATURDAY 9th JUNE (3PM)
Navan - Meath v Laois.
Carlow - Carlow v Westmeath.
Dunloy - Antrim v Kerry.