Murphy and Stafford lead way for U20s

FIELDING just five of the team that started in the All-Ireland minor final win over Tyrone three years ago, Meath made a tentative enough start as they booked their passage to the knockout stages of the Leinster U20 FC at Ashbourne last Tuesday evening.

With two of the three counties qualifying from the group and Dublin also among them, this was a crucial clash for both counties, especially the visitors who needed victory to stay in the competition.

They had lost by 12 points to the Dubs but made a whirlwind start with a goal inside 20 seconds from Jack Duncan.

However, they failed to add to their tally for the remainder of the half as Meath didn’t allow that early setback to unsettle them and they controlled proceedings and rattled over 11 points before the end of the first period.

The Meath attack looked particularly impressive as they scored at will throughout the half with St Patrick’s clubman Jamie Murphy accounting for four of their opening five points inside 14 minutes. Rian Stafford, nephew of former great Brian Stafford, was also prominent as was Seneschalstown’s Cian Commons.

Jack Kinlough was a driving force at midfield alongside Charlie O’Connor but in defence, Meath looked vulnerable at times and were prized open far too easily. Indeed, Westmeath could have doubled their goal advantage with a little more cutting edge in attack.

This is an area that Meath will need to strengthen as they progress and come up against better quality teams than the Midlanders.

Westmeath went close to a second goal on 26 minutes but Shane Corcoran saw his effort rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

Brian Cooney had Westmeath’s opening four points of the second half but five points was as close as they got to reducing the deficit after Tadhg Baker found the net on 49 minutes.

Cooney’s opening point on 32 minutes was heading for the net until a Meath hand got to it and deflected it over the crossbar. Westmeath also went close on a couple of other occasions but they just didn’t have the firepower to cause sufficient damage.

Stafford, Murphy and Commons kept the scoreboard ticking over for Meath, who also hit 10 wides over the hour. Without any of the forwards that won that minor title, it was an impressive tally of scores, even allowing for all those wides.

Cathal O’Bric and his management team have a long injury list at present but will be hoping to have a number of players back prior to the knockout stages.

MEATH: Oisín McDermott (Ballinlough); Brian O’Halloran (Ballivor) 0-1, Seán O’Hare (Rathkenny), Seimi Byrne (Seneschalstown); Eamon Armstrong (Duleek-Bellewstown), John O’Regan (Skryne), Killian Smyth (Castletown) 0-1; Jack Kinlough (Dunboyne) 0-1, Charlie O’Connor (Dunshaughlin); Rian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood) 0-4 (1f), John Harkin (Dunboyne), Conor Duke (Dunshaughlin); Jamie Murphy (St Patrick’s) 0-6 (3f), Cian Commons (Seneschalstown) 0-3, Rian McConnell (Castletown) 0-1. Subs: Tadhg Martyn (Slane) for O’Connor (47), Conor Ennis (Ballinabrackey) for Byrne (50), Hugh Corcoran (Drumbaragh) 0-1 for Harkin (50), John Mannion (St Patrick’s) for Smyth (50), David Curtis (Rathkenny) for Stafford (59).

WESTMEATH: Seán O’Driscoll; Adam Keane, Cormac Monaghan, Seanai Bracken; Liam Daly, Jason Macken, Daragh Lowry; Tadhg Baker 1-0, Shane Ormsby; Jack Duncan 1-0, Brian Cooney 0-4 (3f), Eoin Bracken; Ronan Murray, Shane Hanley, Shane Corcoran. Subs: Tiernan O’Donovan for E Bracken (38), Rory Cole for Duncan (47), Dylan Franzoni for S Bracken (55), Matthew Thornton 0-1 for Murray (55).

REFEREE: Colm McCullough (Louth).