Meath proved too strong for Wicklow in this Leinster JFC quarter-final fixture at Pairc Tailteann on Wednesday evening when the home side finished with nine points to spare.

Meath ....... 1-16
Wicklow ...... 2-4

Meath registered nearly three times as many scores as Wicklow whose second goal arrived in the 58th minute courtesy of substitute Aaron Murphy and was the final score of the game.

Meath went into the second-half five points to the good with the prospect of wind advantage to come.

Midfielder Adam Merryman pointed within seconds of the restart but it proved to by the only such score of the half for Harry Murphy's men. The Rathnew man was also in charge of the county seniors in the Leinster SFC clash with Meath three days earlier.

Pat Coyle's charges responded by posting eight consecutive points. By the end eight different players had registered for Meath, including substitute Cathal Hilliard.

The impressive Darragh McNamara topscored with 1-4 from play. All bar two points (both Andrew Tormey frees) of Meath's total came from play.

That sequence was almost broken by Dean Odlum's second goal of the evening but on this occasion the corner-forward's effort went wide.

Meath got off to a flying start with two Darragh McNamara points within as many minutes of the start. By the 7th minute they had five points on the board with Andrew Tormey (two) and an excellent David Murtagh effort.

A fine Sean Mallon score with McNamara providing the assist left it 0-6 to 0-0 with barely 12 minutes gone.

Just before the quarter hour passed, Wicklow hopes were boosted when Dean Odlum netted from a penalty kick.

Meath responded with 1-2 in a ten-minute spell with McNamara's goal at the hospital end being the highlight.

Wicklow closed the half with three points on the spin, including their first from play courtesy of Odlum in the 30th minute.

There was still time for Ciaran Walsh to double Wicklow's tally from play and leave them 1-3 to 1-8 in arrears at the break.

Next up for Meath in an trip to Kildare for a semi-final meeting on Wednesday, June 13.

Meath - S. Geraghty; H. Newman, S. Crosby, P. Muldoon; C. Rowe, K. Lynch, P. Geoghegan; F. O'Reilly, S. Crosbie (0-1); D. Murtagh (0-1), R. Maguire (0-2), D. McNamara (1-4); D. Quinn (0-2), A. Tormey (0-3, 2fs), S. Mallon (0-2). Subs - B. McMahon for Tormey (40), C. Hilliard (0-1) for McNamara (49), J. Carry Lynch for O'Reilly (52), E. Lynch for Murtagh (56).

Wicklow - R. Lambert; S. Mooney, J. Kelly, K. Hanlon; S. Farrell, I. Sheeran, B. Murphy; A. Merriman (0-1), D. Woods; B. McCrea, M. Gilbert, T. Smith; D. Oldlum (1-2), C. Walsh (0-1), J. Snell. Subs - E. Doyle for Snell, R. Bohan for Gilbert, A. Murphy (1-0) for Smith (all ht), M. Kenny for Mooney (44), S. King for Farrell (59)

Referee - F. Smyth (Offaly). Tweet

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