Corkery pops Westmeath bubble as Royals get off to winning start

A BRACE of goals from Ben Corkery propelled Meath to a deserved 2-10 to 0-10 victory in the opening round of the Leinster MFC at Kinnegad this evening, writes Sean Wall.

The Clann na nGael youngster struck at vital stages in the opening and final quarters with fine individual efforts to give his side the platform for the win.

His second goal on 50 minutes, when he cut in from the right wing and rifled a shot to the net from an acute angle, left the Royals leading 2-7 to 0-9 and they drove on from there in fine style to finish comfortable enough winners.

The opening half was a tentative affair with both teams adopting a cautious approach. Meath defended in numbers and were content to find Cian Commons, who switched to the edge of the square shortly after the start, with high deliveries.

Westmeath led after Aodhan Curran hit over the opening score inside a minute but crucially that was the only time they were in front.

Corkery struck for his opening goal on eight minutes and it was that score that separated the teams at half-time, Meath leading 1-3 to 0-3.

Twice in the second half Westmeath reduced the deficit to the minimum before Corkery pounced for his second goal which proved decisive.

Captain Eamon Armstrong, Cian Commons, Oisin Yore, David Donnelly and goal hero Corkery impressed throughout for Meath while both Michael McIvor and John Harkin both made fine contributions off the bench.

Meath will host Dublin in round two next Wednesday evening.

SCORERS

Meath – Ben Corkery 2-1; Cian Commons 0-3; John Harkin 0-3 two frees; David Donnelly 0-1; Billy Smyth 0-1 free; Pat Crawley 0-1 free.

Westmeath – Shane Cully 0-4 two frees; James Mitchell 0-2 one mark; Aodhan Curran 0-1; Cillian Geary 0-1; Daire O’Connor 0-1 free; Kealan Connell 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath – Brayden Colfer (Slane); Oliver Maloney (Walterstown), Thomas Sheridan (Oldcastle), Cormac Liggan (Dunderry); Oisin O’Neill (Dunderry), John Gormley (Gaeil Colmcille), Patrick White (Ratoath); Eamon Armstrong (Duleek-Bellewstown), Oisin Yore (Carnaross); Cian Duggan (St Peter's), Cian Commons (Seneschalstown), David Donnelly (Bective); Pat Crawley (Oldcastle), Billy Smyth (Skryne), Ben Corkery (Clann na nGael). Subs – Michael McIvor (St Vincent’s) for Duggan 33 mins, Naoise Maguire (St Colmcille’s) for White 37m, John Harkin (St Peter's) for Smyth 43m, Andrew Gormley (Gaeil Colmcille) for Crawley 60m, Manny Magno (Summerhill) for Commons 63m.

Westmeath – Callum Butler; Jack Murtagh, Cian Whitney, Aidan Maguire; Conor Leech, Neale Pierson, Aodhan Curran; Eoin Conlon, James Mitchell; Cillian Geary, Daire O’Connor, Callum Rigney; Shane Cully, Ryan Kelly, John Casey. Subs – Matty Thornton for Rigney 35 mins, Kealan Connell for O’Connor 43m, Daire O’Brien for Leech 46m, Oisin O’Hara for Geary 54m, Conor Daly for Curran 58m.

Referee – Kevin Williamson (Offaly).

Full match report, more photographs and reaction from Kinnegad in next Tuesday's Meath Chronicle.