Royals well beaten by Faithful rivals

At half-time when Meath trailed Offaly 0-9 to 1-11 in the Leinster MHC at Trim on Saturday there was hope for the home side but then the visitors took control. 

A dominant second-half performance helped Offaly to wrap up victory by 4-23 to 0-13 and get their campaign off to a perfect start. 

Danny Flannagan netted for Offaly in that opening half with further goals from Cathal Kiely, Ciaran Teehan and DJ McLoughlin wrapping up the win. Kiely finished with 1-7. 

Ian Bermingham was prominent for Meath with four points from play in the opening half while Mickey Cole fired over three, two frees, one '65' before the break but the supply into the forwards dried up on the resumption.  

Cathal Sherlock (two), Darragh O'Sullivan and Conall Bird also pointed for Meath over the hour in the sunshine but Offaly disappeared over the horizon in the second-half. 

Meath also had captain Cian Kelly sent off late in the game after he picked up a second yellow. 

See match report, quotes and pictures from game in the next issue of the Meath Chronicle