Wicklow edge Meath to reach semis

WICKLOW 1-10 MEATH 1-8

WICKLOW followed their win against Dublin with victory over Meath to qualify for the Leinster semi-final under the tutelage of the county’s only All-Star Kevin O’Brien.

Meath were the dominant team for the opening 25 minutes and led by five points to one. Full forward duo Niall Smullen and Joe Moore scored two each.

Matthew Ging scored all of Wicklow’s three points in the half, two from frees when wing back Kevin Quinn was fouled in desperation. Ging’s third point was a beauty.

Wicklow started the second half well and Craig Maguire kicked two points in two minutes to level the game. Then came the Wicklow goal from a Christopher Grimes run which was finished into the bottom corner by teammate Oisín Cullen.

Meath responded with a Smullen goal and a point to retake the lead but John Keogh replied with a point and Wicklow were never behind again.

Scorers – Wicklow: M Ging (3f) 0-5, O Cullen 1-0, C Maguire 0-2, E Darcy (f), S Cranley, J Keogh 0-1 each. Meath: N Smullen 1-2, J Moore, K Price 0-2 each, C Hawdon, D Swaine 0-1 each.

WICKLOW – B Fennell; F O’Carroll, S Kearney, T Moran; K Quinn, O Cullen, C Grimes; E Byrne, S Doody; A Barrett, C Maguire, J Keogh; M Ging, E Darcy, A Foley. Subs: J Fleming Foran for A Barrett (41), S Cranley for J Keogh (51), C McDonald for A Foley (55), D Lawlor for K Quinn (61), C McHugh for M Ging (63).

MEATH – E Griffin; A Barrett, J Dardis, K Price; L Newe, C Harford, O McCloskey; A Reilly, K Hogan; A Treanor, C Hawdon, D Morgan; A Kelly, N Smullen, J Moore. Subs: C Hetherton for C Harford, S Martyn for A Kelly, N Bennett for A Reilly, D Carr for L Newe (all HT), D Swaine for D Morgan (35), C Hegarty for C Hawdon (48).

REF – J Hickey (Carlow)