Poor show by Derry hurlers

Derry 0-15

Meath 2-16

They did play well in the first half hour but once the tall Noel Kirby got his first goal Meath had that winning look.

Meath moved the 6'6" half forward to the edge of the square and there he did the damage with a goal in either half. Derry on the other hand lacked sharpness and cohesion in front of goal but the sterling defensive work of the visitors full back Enda Fitzgerald curtailed their goal scoring opportunities to two half chances over the seventy minutes.

Meath were stronger and more direct, they won most of the 50/50 tussles and hit just five wides to thirteen by a Derry team that lost for the third time in three home games this year. A few player like Peter O'Kane, Ruairi McCloskey, Sean McBride, young Alan Grant and Sean McBride did play well but others did not perform on the day.

When Derry with teenager Alan Gant in brilliant form went 0-8 to 0-4 in front approaching half time and the wind to follow in the second half it looked as if they were about to justify their odds on favouritism.

Things began to unravel when Kirby got his first goal and including that score the Meath men outscored Derry by 2-12 to 0-7 in the last forty minutes. Neil Hackett was deadly from all angles and distances landing eight frees while for Derry the free taking was again well below par.

They still led by 0-9 to 1-5 at half time and held that lead until sub Kevin Fegan equalised for the visitors seen minutes into the second half. Another Hackett free put Meath in front and when Kirby cut through for an excellent second goal there was no way back for a Derry side lacking bite in too many areas.

The Meath lead was expended to six points before Derry launched a mini revival with scores from Alan Grant, Sean McBride and Sean McBride to leave just three between the teams.

The concession of a number of silly frees easily converted by Hackett saw the Leinster men pull away for a comfortable victory leaving Derry in the relegation zone.

As ace forward Sean McBride pointed out after the game the loss of the injured Liam Hinphey and mark Craig on football duty was a big blow to the team. Also missing was another key defender Stephen Henry with an ankle injury.

Next up its London in the Ulster senior championship and having already hammered the exiles in the league it should be the chance to get back to winning ways.

Meath scorers Neil Hackett 0-8frees, Noel Kirby 2-0, Mark Mullally and Pauric Keogh 0-2 each, Martin Horan, David Kirby, Kevin Fagan and Peter Durnin 0-1 each.

Derry scorers Ruairi Convery 0-5, 0-4frees, Sean McBride 0-3, 0-1free, Alan Grant 0-4, Paddy Henry 0-3

Referee R. Matthews Antrim