Meath 0-13 Kilkenny 1-3:THERE WAS a first victory for Meath under new manager Séamus McEnaney in the O'Byrne Shield at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday night but the margin of only seven points over minnows Kilkenny was surprising.
Kilkenny actually “won” the second half by 1-3 to 0-4 after failing to score in the first period. Among the players on trial for Meath was Alan Lyons, son of full-back legend Mick.
The Skryne duo of Paddy O’Rourke and Ian Davis equally shared six points before Seoirse Kenny grabbed the visitors’ goal on 70 minutes. Shane McAnarney earned a Meath penalty in added time but Davis fired the kick wide.
MEATH: B Murphy; G O’Brien, J Macken, S Carr; T Skelly, A Lyons, C Brennan; T Walsh (0-1), C Gillespie (0-2); P O’Rourke (0-3), A Douglas, T Farrelly (0-1); I Davis (0-3, two frees), D Morgan (0-1), B Sheridan (0-1). Subs: A Reynolds for Gillespie (39 mins), B Ennis for Morgan (45 mins), D Flood for O’Brien (47), S McAnarney (0-1, free) for Douglas (57), K Reilly for Sheridan (60 mins).
KILKENNY: D Garvey; T Kehoe, R O’Hara, D Grennan; M Malone, S Mahony, C Foran; S Kenny (1-0), M Mahony; P Raftice, E Vereker, M Saunders; D Prendergast (0-1), P Donnelly (0-1), G Lawlor (0-1). Subs: S Mooney for Saunders (45 mins), M Duggan for Raftice (52 mins), G Purcell for Lawlor (57 mins), D Fitzpatrick for Donnelly, J Mackey for Prendergast (both 64 mins).
Referee: G Whelan (Wicklow).
