Meath still searching for first McDonagh Cup win

That elusive Joe McDonagh Cup victory is getting closer and closer, but at Pairc Tailteann today Meath came up just short again as they were edged out 0-16 to 0-18 by a Kerry side that have secured their status for 2019.
Meath's place in the Joe McDonagh Cup is now hanging by a thread following a fourth defeat, but they suffered plenty of hard luck when going down to a Kerry side that had beaten them by 16 points in February.
A harsh dismissal for Alan Douglas late in the first-half, a blistering shot from James Kelly that struck the crossbar, two fierce drives from Gavin McGowan and Jack Regan that were scrambled clear and a last second flick from Sean Geraghty that sailed over the bar rather than under it - very little went Meath's way.
Leading by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break it was Kerry's third quarter dominance that proved decisive as Meath went from being two points up to seven points down and chasing the game.
Meath did launch a late recovery to close the gap to 0-14 to 0-18, but were denied a goal when Regan's close range free was stopped on the line.
When Joey Keena closed the gap further Meath went close to salvaging a draw but Geraghty's flicked effort cleared the crossbar as Kerry survived.
Both sides looked nervous in an error-strewn opening half and scores were difficult to come by with six of the first nine coming from placed balls.
It was Kerry who opened the scoring in the third minute with Shane Conway on target after James O'Connor was fouled, but a minute later Meath were level when Adam Gannon pointed and after Paddy Conneely was fouled he recovered sufficiently to give the hosts the lead for the first time from the resultant free.
A Conway '65' and a disputed point from Jack Goulding which the umpire didn't raise his flag for restored Kerry's lead, 0-3 to 0-2.
Conneely restored parity before Douglas picked up his first yellow card for a high tackle on Mikey Boyle in the 18th minute. Goalkeeper Martin Stackpoole converted the free from his own 65-metre line to level it up for the fourth time and that trend continued with Conneely (free) and Bryan Murphy, from inside his own 45-metre line, trading scores.
A massive score from Conneely was followed by an equally impressive score from Keith Keoghan as Meath opened up a two-point lead, 0-7 to 0-5, for the first time, but then Douglas saw red when he picked up a second yellow after a shoulder challenge on John Buckley to leave Meath down to 14 men after just 28 minutes.
The Meath response to that setback was to pull three points clear with James Kelly lofting over, but Kerry pulled one back before the break through Brendan O'Leary to close the gap to 0-6 to 0-8 at half-time.
However after the resumption Kerry pulled clear with points from Padraig Boyle (four), Shane Conway (two), Brandon Barrett (two), Daniel Collins and Mikey Boyle moving them 0-16 to 0-9 clear.
Keoghan hit Meath's sole reply in that spell while Kelly also struck the crossbar with a brilliant effort.
Trailing by seven at the end of the third quarter Meath settled again and played some neat hurling, hitting five of the next six points with Conneely (three, two frees), Joey Keena and Regan on target to make it 0-14 to 0-17 with 66 minutes gone.
Another Conway point from a placed ball pushed Kerrry two scores clear and while Meath almost grabbed a goal with Regan having a free saved they were clutching at straws.
Keena closed the gap to three again and when Geraghty saw his late chance sail over the bar it left Meath down and out as Kerry celebrated survival. While for Meath it is down to a crunch game against Laois next week. 

Kerry – Martin Stackpoole (0-1 free); Sean Weir, John Buckley, Bryan Murphy (0-1); Brandon Barrett (0-2), Daniel Collins (0-1), James O'Connor; Jordan Conway, Brendan O'Leary (0-1); Daithi Griffin, Mikey Boyle (0-1), Barry O'Mahonys; Jack Goulding (0-1), Padraig Boyle (0-4 three frees), Shane Conway (0-6 two frees, two '65s'). Subs – Shane Nolan for Griffin 49 mins, Daniel O'Carroll for Goulding 59m, Tom Murnane for Weir 64m, Maurice O'Connor for Conway 66m, Stephen Leane for J O'Connor 73m.
Meath – Shane McGann; Shane Brennan, Sean Geraghty, Darragh Kelly; Joey Keena (0-2), Damien Healy, Keith Keoghan (0-2); Gavin McGowan, Alan Douglas; Cathal McCabe, James Kelly (0-1), Paddy Conneely (0-6 three frees); Stephen Morris, Adam Gannon (0-2), David Conneely. Subs – Neil Heffernan for McGowan 49 mins, Jack Regan (0-1) for Healy 53m, Sean Quigley for J Kelly 55m, James Toher for McCabe 59m, Colm O Mealoid for Gannon 64m,

Referee – Shane Hynes (Galway).