Meath open with comfortable win over Louth

As first games of the season go tonight's O'Byrne Cup quarter-final was something of a Carlsberg occasion for Meath as they coasted to a 2-13 to 1-7 win over Louth at Ashbourne to set up a semi-final meeting with defending champions Longford at the same venue next Friday night.

Nine different scorers, 1-9 from play, 26 players used and no more injury concerns will be music to Colm O'Rourke's ears and the huge crowd at Ashbourne left with a pep in their step and a smile on their faces.

It is 'only' the O'Byrne Cup and it would be folly to get carried with away, but there were certainly plenty of positives from a green and gold persepective ahead of tougher test in league and championship.

The mix of kick-passing and through-the-hands football enhanced the entertainment and while there was plenty of gaps and space that won't be as bountiful in the future it was enjoyable fare.

Meath were the better team and even after the disruption of making six changes at half-time when only a point to the good, they never lost any of their fluidity.

Everyone of the 26 who played put their hand up for future inclusion and with another game next Friday night they will get their chance again.

Louth actually opened the scoring and led for the first and only time after 45 seconds when Ryan Burns pointed.

By the 15th minute Meath were in command. Jack Flynn drew them level before Mathew Costello converted a free to edge them ahead.

A brilliant sweeping move involving Eoghan Frayne, Jack O'Connor and Cathal Hickey ended With Aaron Lynch flicking the ball over the advancing Niall McDonnell for the opening goal and four minutes later Costello added his side's third point to make it 1-3 to 0-1.

Burns converted a free in the 21st minute to end Louth's long barren spell and they received a further boost when Jack O'Connor was blackcarded for a careless trip on an advancing defender.

While O'Connor was in the sin-bin Louth outscored Meath by 1-2 to 0-1.

Meath did restored their five-point cushion with a Costello free, but 30 seconds later Louth were back in the game when corner-back Dan Corcoran executed a finish David Clifford would be proud off to give Sean Brennan no chance.

Wayne Campbell and Jonathan Commins quickly added points as Louth restored parity, but that was as good as it got for Ger Brennan's side as Lynch converted a free to ensure a 1-5 to 1-4 interval lead for Meath who were restored to 15 men.

It took Meath just 90 seconds to reassert their authority after the break when Hickey was fouled by Dermot Campbell.

Costello made no mistake from the resultant penalty and from the following kickout Ruairi Kinsella's cheeky lob attempt dropped just wide.

Excellent play by replacement goalkeeper Billy Hogan, one of six half-time changes, set up Sean Coffey for a score and by the three-quarters stages points from Adam McDonnell and Kinsella (two) extended Meath's lead to 2-9 to 1-4.

The plethora of subs disrupted the flow of the game in the second period.

It took Louth 21 minutes to add to their opening half tally with Sean Marry on target.

Debutant Cathal Finnegan and Louth's Peter McStravick, who played in goals for them last year, traded points before scores from Kinsella and Diarmuid Moriarty stretched Meath's lead to 2-12 to 1-6.

The closing minutes saw Burns convert a '45' as Meath limited Louth to just two points from play in the second-half, while Keith Curtis closed the scoring with a pointed free to ensure the host's comfortable passage.

SCORERS

Meath - Mathew Costello 1-3 1-0 penalty, two frees; Aaron Lynch 1-1; Ruairi Kinsella 0-3; Jack Flynn 0-1; Adam McDonnell 0-1; Sean Coffey 0-1; Cathal Finnegan 0-1 free; Diarmuid Moriarty 0-1; Keith Curtis 0-1 free.

Louth - Ryan Burns 0-3 one free, one '45'; Dan Corcoran 1-0; Wayne Campbell 0-1; Jonathan Commins 0-1; Sean Marry 0-1; Peter McStravick 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Sean Brennan; Michael Flood, Adam O'Neill, Michael Murphy; Ciaran Caulfield, Ronan Jones, Sean Coffey; Jack Flynn, Cathal Hickey; Daithi McGowan, Eoghan Frayne, Darragh Campion; Aaron Lynch, Mathew Costello, Jack O'Connor. Subs - Billy Hogan for Brennan, Adam McDonnell for Caulfield, Daire Rowe for Lynch, Donal Keogan for Jones, Ruairi Kinsella for Campion, Diarmuid Moriarty for Frayne all half-time. Conor Gray for Costello, Shane Walsh for Flynn both 45m, Conor Farrelly for Coffey 50m, Cathal Finnegan for O'Connor 52m, Keith Curtis for Flood 58m..

Louth - Niall McDonnell; Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch, Cameron Maher; Conall McKeever, Dermot Campbell, Oisin McGuinness; Conor Early, Wayne Campbell; Peter McStravick, Tom Jackson, Jonathan Commins; Ryan Burns, Dylan McKeown, Kyle McElroy. Subs - Ciaran Murphy for McKeever 40m, Leonard Grey for Corcoran, Chris O'Neil for McStravick both 45m, Sean Marry for McElroy 48m, Ben Collier for Commins 54m, Donal McKenny for Campbell 67m.

Referee - Ian Howley (Dublin).