Meath see off neighbours to open in impressive style

Leinster MFC

Meath 4-2-6 (22)

Westmeath 0-2-6

As starts to a Leinster MFC campaign go it was near perfect for Meath as they cruised past Westmeath in efficient fashion at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.

The only downside for the Royals was an injury picked up by Luke Kenny in the 60th minute, just four minutes after he came on as a substitute, as the Ballivor player had to be stretchered off.

In the ensuing minutes of injury-time Meath added further gloss to their tally with a brace of goals from Robert Johnson, one from the penalty spot, but the game was well over by that stage as Nathan Reilly led the Royal charge.

Joe Cowley's side got off to the perfect start with a goal from Adam McEvoy in the third minute and by the 13th minute they stretched that lead to 1-6 to 0-0 as Reilly and Charlie Gallagher (free) landed two-pointers and Stephen Cahill and Gallagher scored from play.

Westmeath went close when Meath goalkeeper Kian Campbell wandered from his line, but Dean Kelly shot wide from a narrow angle.

The visitors finally got off the mark early in the second quarter when their best player Will Scahill converted a free, but Meath kept their foot on the gas with three of the last four scores of the half from Reilly (two) and Eoghan McBrearty, in reply to another Scahill free, to lead by 1-9 to 0-2 at the break.

Despite facing into a stiff breeze for the second period Meath went close to bagging a second goal after just 25 seconds, but Reilly's shot was saved by John Paul and Johnson's follow up was cleared off the line by Tomas Brennan.

After Scahill missed a free the Westmeath star man then hit two points either side of a Finn Higgins effort to close the gap to 0-5 to 1-9.

Meath's first score of the second period was a crucial settling one as McEvoy flicked on the excellent Declan Byrne's long ball into the path of Reilly and he shrugged off the challenge of Sean Keegan before bobbling the ball to the net.

Rory McCaul replied with a point for Westmeath, but Meath defended well and were denied a third goal when Paul saved from Cahill in the 52nd minute.

Scahill was sent to the line for an innocuous black card offence and while he was off Reilly and Sean Whittaker traded frees, with the Westmeath man's being a two-pointer, before Johnson converted his first goal from the penalty spot after Cillian Murphy was fouled.

From the next kickout Meath won possession and Johnson applied the finish for a fourth goal. Westmeath closed the scoring with a fine two-pointer from Keegan, but it was Meath's day as they hope for a speedy recovery for Kenny.

Meath - Kian Campbell (Clonard); Charlie O'Connor (Trim), Conall O'Sullivan (St Michael's), Glen Callaghan (Duleek-Bellewstown); Tadhg Foley (Trim), Eoghan McBrearty (St Colmcille's 0-1), Niall Lawless (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Declan Byrne (Summerhill), Charlie Gallagher (St Peter's 0-3 one two-point free, one free); Will Byrne (Simonstown), Cillian Murphy (St Colmcille), Jeff Foley (Dunshaughlin); Adam McEvoy (O'Mahonys 1-0), Stephen Cahill (Dunsany 0-1), Nathan Reilly (Simonstown 1-5 one free, one two-pointer). Subs - Robert Johnson (Dunsany 2-0 one penalty) for J Foley half-time, Max Condon (Simonstown) for T Foley 39m, Sean Smyth (Skryne) for Byrne 51m 45m, Luke Kenny (Ballivor) for McEvoy 56m, Sean Delaney (St Peter's) for Kenny 60m.

Westmeath - John Paul; Tomas Brennan, Eoin Donohue, Sean Byrne; Conor Casey, Oisin McCauley, Sean Keegan (0-2 two-pointer); Cian Fleming, Dillon Burke; Aaron Connaire, Will Scahill (0-4 three frees), Finn Higgins (0-1); Jack Duignan, Dean Kelly, Sean Whittaker (0-2 two-point free). Subs - Conor Cleary for Connaire 39m, Rory McCaul (0-1) for Fleming 43m, Ross Tully for Casey 56m, Sean Graham for Kelly, William Geraghty for Duignan both 60m.

Referee - Dan Stynes (Dublin).