Lusmagh were too good for Meath's Clann na nGael in this Leinster Club JHC preliminary round tie at Trim on Sunday.

Lusmagh (Offaly)  1-17
Clann Na nGael (Meath)  1-6

The Offaly-men would have won by a wider margin but for the heroics of Clann na nGael 'keeper Darren Heaney who made a string of fine saves including one from Sean Gardiner's 17th minute penalty.

Having posted three points in the opening five minutes, Lusmagh maintained the lead to the end to secure a home meeting with Arklow Rock Parnells in the next round on November.

The men in red were superior to Clann na nGael and were able to respond well to attempts by the 'home' side to eat into the deficit.

Slicker Lusmagh registered nearly three times as many scores as Clann na nGael and never looked in danger of losing.

Lusmagh were first out of the blocks with points from Paul Kinsella and Eimhin Kelly within three minutes of the off. The Offaly outfit remained in front to the end.

But for the intervention of Darren Heaney, Graham Lynch might have goaled for the Offaly men in the fifth minute.

Kelly posted his second point from play before wing-back Aaron Ennis landed a seventh minute free from distance to get the Athboy-Rathcairn off the mark.

The slicker Offaly men responded with four scores on the spin. Further scores were denied Lusmagh when Shane Healy's long range effort struck the butt of an upright 11 minutes in.

Kelly brought Lusmagh's tally to four in the seventh minute with a fine solo effort. It was a quick response to the Meath men's opening score, a free from wing-back Aaron Ennis.

Martin Keogh registered Clann na nGael's sole first-half score from play in the 24th minute to leave the board reading 0-7 to 0-2 in favour of the visitors.

Lusmagh replied with ponts from Coalan Kelly and top scorer Paul Kinsella (free). Benny Murray (free) pulled one back for Clann na nGael to leave Lusmagh 0-9 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

The highlight of the third quarter was another Heaney save this time from Lusmagh's KInsella in the 36th minute with the board reading 0-10 to 0-4.

It offered temporary respite for Clann na nGael as Lusmagh moved 0-14 to 0-5 clear by the three-quarter mark.

The goals arrived in quick succession at the start of the third quarter. Sub Pat Shore finished a Murray free to the Lusmagh net in the 46th minute. Two minutes later Paul Hogan goaled at the town end after Eimhin Kelly's delivery bounced awkwardly on the articficial in the 'small square'.

Martin Keogh went close to pulling a goal back for Clann na nGael in the 58th minute, his effort was stopped by Lusmagh 'keeper James Troy. Lusmagh will be at home to Arklow Rock Parnells in the next round on November 8.

Lusmagh - James Troy; Darren Healy, Alan Kelly, Shane Lanigan; Niall Duffy, David Moran, Shane Healy; Sean Gardiner, Eoin Quinlan (0-2); Leonard Ryan (0-1), Paul Hogan (1-1, 0-1f), Caolan Kelly (0-2); Paul Kinsella (0-7, 3fs 2 65s), Graham Lynch, Eimhin Kelly (0-4). Subs - Damian Kelly for Kinsella (52), Gavin Troy for E Kelly (56), John Delahunt for Kelly (59), Damian Hogan for A Kelly (60).

Clann na nGael - Darren Heaney; Jack Doherty, Garry Mangan, Caoimhin O Griofa; Gary Woods, Darragh Brogan, Aaron Ennis (0-1f); Ciaran Fitzsimons, Matthew Mullen; Gearoid Breatnach (0-1), Luke Swaine, Paddy Geraghty; Eamon O Donnchadha, Martin Keogh (0-1), Benny Murray (0-3fs). Subs - Edwin Doherty for O Griofa (25), Pat Shore (1-0) for Ennis (43), Daithi Geraghty (0-1) for Breatnach (46), Sean O'Reilly for Geraghty (56).

Referee - Antoin Keating (Dublin)

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