Sport

Kildare prove too strong for Meath

Kildare 2-15 Meath 1-9: A dominant second-half display enabled Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare side pull away from their opponents…

Thu Mar 07 2013 - 00:00

Kildare 2-15 Meath 1-9:A dominant second-half display enabled Kieran McGeeney's Kildare side pull away from their opponents at Navan's Pairc Tailteann to earn a semi-final clash with Laois.

Daniel Queeney gave the home side an early lead with a converted free and with the wing-forward on target with two more similar kicks, a 0-6 to 0-2 advantage was built up.

Kildare, who had been employing most of their players in defensive roles, came out of their shells to hit 1-2 in three minutes to edge ahead. The goal arrived on 26 minutes with two county seniors combining as Niall Kelly fired to the net following a pass from Daniel Flynn.

After Kelly slotted over a free and Kelly pointed, Queeney replied with a fine effort from play to leave the sides level (0-7 to 1-4) at the break.

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Kildare resumed the stronger with points from Pádraig Fogarty and midfielder and captain Thomas Moolick in the opening five minutes regaining the advantage for them

Level terms

After Kelly increased the lead, Meath hit back to get on level terms with Queeney getting on the end of a centre from Eamon Wallace to fist to the net on 42 minutes.

However, that was the last time that the teams would be on equal terms with Pádraig Fogarty netting Kildare’s second goal at the three-quarter stage after a Kelly attempt was blocked out.

That was the beginning of the end for the home side as the Lilywhites outscored the home side by 0-7 to 0-2 from then to the finish.

KILDARE: M Donnellan; M Konstantin, J Byrne, B Egan; D Hyland, F Conway, S Higgins; T Moolick (0-1), D Grehan; L McGovern (0-2, 2 frees), N Kelly (1-2), D Flynn; P Brophy (0-3), F Dowling (0-1), P Fogarty (1-4). Subs: S Hurley (0-2, 1 45) for Grehan (18), C Murphy for Dowling, H Mahon for Kelly (both 54), P Cribben for Flynn (58), D McGlynn for Conway (60).

MEATH: C McHugh; S Carty, C McGill, D McQuillan; B Dillon, B Moore, N Shortall; C Sheridan, C O’Brien (0-1); D Queeney (1-4, 0-3 frees), C Downey, S Barry; E Wallace (0-2), B O’Brien, B McMahon (0-1, free). Subs: F Toolan for Shortall (half-time), J Toher for C O’Brien (40), P Fox (0-1) for B O’Brien (42), H Rooney for Sheridan (47), D Landy for Barry (53). Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).