Derry are foiled by rampant Royals

they struggled for scores.

In that period Meath’s play was ridden with errors as well and Andy McEntee’s side, which showed four changes from the team that started against Kildare, also laboured in different sectors of the pitch as they trailed 0-4 to 0-6 at the break.

Donal Lenihan had a nightmare in attack, with his finishing - both from play and placed balls - completely deserting him throughout the opening half, while Conor Downey fared no better and was withdrawn after just 29 minutes.

The Meath defence wasn’t seriously tested at any stage, but at times the marking was much too slack and Derry managed a number of long-range scores in the first half.

Benny Heron (two), Enda Glynn, Emmett McGuckin, Conor McAtamney and Niall Loughlin were all on target for the visitors in the opening half, while Cillian O’Sullivan (two), Shane McEntee and Bryan Menton were the Meath scorers.

O’Sullivan had a couple of goal chances in the half, but he shot wide of the target after just three minutes and then pointed when he should have found the net after taking a pass from Brian Sheridan on 14 minutes.

Derry keeper Ben McKinless did well to deflect a goal effort from Bryan Menton over his crossbar two minutes after the restart and Derry still led 0-8 to 0-6 following Enda Lynn’s 43rd-minute point, but the complexion of the game changed as soon as Meath hit the front following a goal by Cillian O’Sullivan on 44 minutes.

The home side then added quick points from Menton and Brian Sheridan and it was mostly one-way traffic after that. The introduction of Joey Wallace, Ruairi O Coileain and Bryan McMahon to the Meath attack also improved matters for the hosts who ran their opponents ragged.

Meath were six clear before McMahon produced a great finish for the second goal on 65 minutes. The hosts had earlier being reduced to 14 men after Alan Forde picked up a second yellow card.

Then in added time O’Sullivan rounded off a great individual display with his side’s third goal to further enhance the team’s scoring difference.

Derry had two players black-carded in the closing stages, keeper Ben McKinless and Enda Lynn, while Meath’s Eamonn Wallace was only on for six minutes when he too was shown a black card.