Meath 1-12 Westmeath 0-11

O’Moore Park Portlaoise provided the setting for another meeting of old rivals Meath and Westmeath. This Leinster quarter final played on June 2nd 2002 was eagerly awaited as these two talented outfit played out a thriller the year before with the Royals just advancing to the provincial semi final 2-12 to 1-14.

Drumree’s John Cullinane was chosen as Nigel Crawford’s partner at midfield, Paul Shankey and Paddy Reynolds were back in the half back line with Donal Curtis and Nigel Nestor moving up to the attack where Richie Kealy and Ray Magee were the pair to lose out from the team beaten by Galway in the 2001 All Ireland final.

The game began at a frantic pace which was maintained for almost the entire duration and the early exchanges were evenly contested. The teams were level on five occasions in the opening thirty minutes but on the run in to half time a Westmeath defender was dispossessed, Donal Curtis found Ollie Murphy and his pass reached Evan Kelly who scored the games only goal. Meath were now four points ahead and although that was also the margin at the full time whistle, Sean Boylan’s charges never looked like losing and would have been flattered by a substantially wider winning margin.

Darren Fay made a welcome return to competitive action after his 12 weeks suspension while Crawford and Cullinane always had the edge at centrefield against Rory O’Connell and David O’Shaughnessy who was replaced early in the second half.

Trevor Giles had a hugh impact at centre forward while Evan Kelly and Donal Curtis worked like trojans throughout. Ollie Murphy and Graham Geraghty inflicted some damage on the opposite defence but neither player were at his sharpest in the finishing department.

Meath scorers: Trevor Giles 0-6, Evan Kelly 1-2, Graham Geraghty 0-2, Paul Shankey and Donal Curtis 0-1 each

Meath: Cormac Sullivan, Mark O’Reilly, Darren Fay, Cormac Murphy, Paul Shankey, Hank Traynor, Paddy Reynolds, Nigel Crawford, John Cullinane, Evan Kelly, Trevor Giles, Nigel Nestor, Ollie Murphy, Graham Geraghty, Donal Curtis. Subs: Richie Kealy, Ray Magee, Adrian Kenny, Anthony Moyles.

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