Good win for Meath against Wexford
Meath recorded a thoroughly deserved 4-18 to 4-8 Gerry Reilly u-16 Leinster FT semi-final victory over Wexford at Millbrook this afternoon.
Millbrook, the home of tournament host club Oldcastle GAA club was sun-drenched for the occasion.
The players on each side served up a spectacle of football after which Wexford were disappointed with the defeat, but can be proud of the performance.
Eight goals (shared), six in the first-half, contributed to a hugely entertaining game.
Meath recovered from a tentative opening and a 0-3 to 1-2 deficit at the end of the first-quarter to take control and forge into a 3-6 to 3-4 interval lead.
Meath also missed a penalty when Ruairi Kinsella was wide of the target - it was unfortunate as referee Alfie Devine was just too prompt with the whistle as a goal was scored despite the foul.
However, KInsella did find the net along with Adam McDonnell and Mark Coffey in the opening half while Eoghan Frayne,
who was selected as player-of-the-match, contributed five points (four frees) with Ciaran Caulfield also sending over.
Wexford had some very good players and none more so than Jack Higgins, but the first-half goals came from Liam Doyle, who also hit three points, and Shane Culleton with Jude Bates also pointing.
Meath set themselves up for victory with a third-quarter point-blitz that extended the lead to eight points (3-13 to 3-5) as Zak McGovern, Aaron Murphy and Frayne claimed a brace each along with John McDonagh.
David Neville pointed for Wexford before Doyle converted a penalty, but Meath remained in the ascendancy and a fourth goal
arrived from Cian Smyth in added time.
SCORERS
Meath - Eoghan Frayne 0-8; Ruairi KInsella 1-1; Cian Smyth 1-0; Adam McDonnell 1-0; Mark Coffey 1-0; Aaron MUrphy 0-3;
Zak McGovern 0-2; Ciaran Caulfield 0-2; John McDonagh 0-1;Luke Hannon 0-1.
Wexford - Liam Doyle 2-5; Jack Higgins 1-0; Shane Culleton 1-0; David Hennebry 0-2; David Neville 0-1.
OTHER INFO
For the organisers of the tournament it was disappointing that Cavan opted to withdraw (concede a walkover) to Dublin in their quarter-final. Another Ulster team, Monaghan, also pulled out for the second year in-a-row.
Dublin will play Down in the semi-final after the Mourne boys defeated Louth last night by 5-18 to 1-6.
Meath will play Cill Dara (Kildare had two teams) in the semi-final.
Cill Dara defeated Offaly by 5-17 to 3-15 in the second game in Oldcastle today.
SEMI-FINALS
Meath v Cill Dara
Dublin v Down
Dates to be finalised but could be be next weekend
ACTION FROM THE CLOSING MINUTES OF MEATH v WEXFORD