Under 20 HB: Murray marches Meath into last four
July 13, 2021
Wicklow's Conor Wafer with Jack Cottrell Meath during the All Ireland U20 B quarter final at Lomans Park Trim
James Murray's outstanding display was central to Meath's emphatic All-Ireland Under 21 HB quarter-final win over Wicklow at Trim on Tuesday evening.
Meath .......... 4-24
Wicklow ...... 1-13
With a tally of 2-12 the Trim teenager posted half of his side's total before being 'rested' for the final quarter. Just before his departure he fired in two goals in quick succession. At this point Meath's semi-final spot was long secured. To view photos click here
Six other players compiled the other half of Meath's tally with Jack Cottrell and sub Brian Moore getting the goals. Maybe with an eye on tougher challenges Meath rested three players at the second water break.
As their tempo dropped, Meath were outscored by 0-7 to 1-2 in the final quarter with sub Brian Moore goaling with the final puck of the game.
Peter Durnin's charges were never headed following Jack Cottrell's second minute goal with Murray assisting.
On a dry (later sunny) evening, Wicklow kept Meath in their sights despite that early setback. Rory Lambe and wing-back Brandon Ryan had shared 1-11 between them by the end..
A mistake by Meath 'keeper Conor Ryan led to Lambe's 11th minute goal that revived Wicklow. The same player quickly added two points (one free) and the margin was down to the minimum, 1-5 to 1-4.
To their credit Meath didn't panic and inched 1-7 to 1-5 ahead at the first water break. Either side of the break Murray added four points on the spin and picked out passes to assist Jack Cottrell and Justin Coyne with points.
Having hit nine points on the spin in the second quarter, Meath moved 1-16 to 1-5 ahead at the interval.
Meath's points' return dipped in the second-half, but Murray's brace of goals showed there was no sign of slacking.
Team captain Cian Kelly excellent effort from distance was the last score before the second water break, when it was 3-22 to 1-6.
Meath saw the hour out as the sun proved to be an obstacle to both sides. Wicklow pointed thrice on the bounce (Ryan (twice) and Lambe. Moore's late goal left 20 points between the sides at the finish.
Scorers: Meath - James Murray 2-12 (0-7fs); Brian Moore 1-1; Mikey Cole 0-4; Jack Cottrell 1-1; Justin Coyne 0-3; Jack Lanigan 0-2; Cian Kelly 0-1.
Wicklow - Rory Lambe 1-4 (0-2 fs); Brandon Ryan 0-7 (4fs, 1 sl); Shaun Cranley 0-1 (65); Torna Mulcrony 0-1.
Meath - Conor Ryan; Ben Holden, Gary Fleming, Dylan Farrell (Killyon); Adam O'Connor, Cian Kelly (C), Conor Fitzgerald; Justin Coyne, Dylan Farrell (Trim); Jack Lanigan, Cormac Keyes, James Murray; Jack Cottrell; Mikey Cole, Josh Harris. Subs - Sean Doyle for Keyes (43), Brian Moore for Murray (46), Conor McGovern for Harris (46), Luke Horan for Dylan Farrell (Trim) (46), Aidan Fraher for Dylan Farrell (Trim) (52).
Wicklow - Meitheal Cleary;Conor Wafer, Dylan Byrne, Dara Owens; Brandon Ryan, Eoin Kavanagh, Tommy Collins; Shaun Cranley, Shane Browne; Owen Young, John Doyle (C), Tim Byrne; Rory Lambe, Charlie Cruise, Torna Mulconry.Subs - Cian O'Neill for Owens (ht), John Toomey for T Byrne (ht), James McGing for Kavanagh (39), Jack Manley for Browne (58).
Referee - Shane Guinan (Offaly)
