Holders Meath ran out decisive winners over St Patrick's-Mater Dei in this Bord na Mona Kehoe Cup opener at Pairc Tailteann early on Sunday afternoon.

Meath 1-16 St Patrick's-Mater Dei   0-12

There was little between the sides until the final quarter when Meath outscored the students by 1-3 to 0-2 with Patrick Conneely's 55th minute goal leaving it 1-15 to 0-10.

The three-pointer at the town end ended the students' hopes of extracting something from this fixture. With wind advantage they were unable to overhaul the home side who led all the way having taken an early lead through top scorer Jack Regan.

The Kiltale-man and Meath Hurler of the Year scored six points before making way for Kildalkey's Gary Kelly in the final quarter. Meath's first replacement, Willie McGrath notched three points from play after replacing Adam Gannon in the 44th minute. His efforts were the highlight of the second half for the holders.

The students depended heavily on midfielder Eoin Price for scores The squally wind blowing into the old swimming pool end favoured Meath in the first-half. The nature of the elements was reflected in the wide count in the opening 30 minutes. The home side hit nine while the student struck seven.

Jack Regan - the sole starter from county champions Kiltale - opening the scoring from a second minute free and by half-time had three points (two frees) to his credit.

Regan added a second (from play)  before Westmeath's Eoin Price opened the students' account in the 13th minute. The midfielder finished with 0-7 (three frees) to his credit.

The second St Pat's-Mater Dei player to get off the mark was Conor Joyce and his 39th minute effort left the board at the opposite end of the reading 0-9 to 0-7.

That was as close as the students' got to the home side in the second-half. By the end six different players registered from play for Meath.

Trim's Alan Douglas got in on the scoring act with an excellent 18th minute effort. When Regan got his third (second free) it was 0-4 to 0-1 to Martin Ennis' men with 20 minutes gone.
Regan, Douglas and Adam Gannon (who made it 0-5 to 0-1 after 21 minutes) were Meath's first-half scorers. The students' first-half tally came courtesy of Price including the last two scores of the half.

Meath led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break with the prospect of facing the wind after the change of ends while the students squared up to the winter sun.

Within seconds of the restart James Toher added to Meath's tally. Though St Patrick's-Mater Dei responded through a Price free, Meath kept the student at arms' length before kicking-on in the final quarter.

Meath travel to Darver to take on Louth in the next round next Sunday while St Pat's-Mater Dei head to Longford on the same day.

Meath - Charlie Bird; Cormac Reilly, Shane Brennan, Neil McLoughlin; Eoin Marsh, Colm Doyle, Shane Whitty; Stephen Morris, Sean Heavey; Jack Regan (0-6, 4fs), Adam Gannon (0-2), Keith Keoghan; James Toher (0-1), Alan Douglas (0-2), Patrick Conneely (1-2). Subs - Karl Ennis for McLoughlin (15), Willie McGrath (0-3) for Gannon (44), Gary Kelly for Regan (48), Padraig Keogh for Keoghan (48), Ciaran Joyce for Marsh (66).

St Pat's-Mater Dei - Jack Higgins (Dublin); Darragh Egan (Kilkenny), Paddy Donnelly (Dublin), Shane Parson (Kilkenny); Kevin Crean (Wexford), Ruairi Tubrid (Wexford), Christy Breathnach (Waterford); Naoise Maguire (Dublin), Eoin Price (Westmeath) (0-7, 3fs); Colm Morris (Waterford), Peter Sutton (Wexford) (0-2, 1f), Conor Joyce (Kilkenny); Eoin MacIntyre (Tipperary) (0-1), Kevin Ryan (Wexford), Jack Bruton (Kilkenny) (0-1). Subs - Peter Walsh (0-1) for Bruton (50), Eoghan Rickard for K Ryan (69), Niall Brennan for McIntyre (70).

Referee - Gearoid McGrath (Dublin)

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