Meath are through to the last four of the Leinster SFC with this decisive win over Wicklow on Sunday afternoon.

Meath ....... 4-13
Wicklow ...... 1-12

Boosted by two early goals, - including one for the record books - Meath got the job done with sub Mathew Costello's brilliant 45th minute strike into the town goal that left it 3-8 to 0-8.

Meath seemed to ease up in the latter stages of game where  Wicklow never looked like repeating their stunning win over Laois the previous weekend.

Bryan Menton capped a strong showing at midfield with four points from play. Apart from Costello, Jack Flynn was another sub to grab a goal.

Wicklow 'keeper Mark Jackson nailed four placed balls - two frees and two 45s - with aplomb.

Meath keeper Harry Hogan seemed to be at fault for Wicklow's goal  - when failing to collect an Aaran Murphy delivery before another replacment Oisin McGraynor bundled the ball to the net.

Nine seconds in Meath struck for the opening goal with Jack O'Connor finishing a move that began at the throw-in. It may turn out to be the fastest goal in the championship this year. Seasoned observers agree on that.

Within four minutes Wicklow cut the gap to the minimum with a Kevin Quinn point. Two minutes later James McEntee punched a Cathal Hickey cross to the net. By the 15th minute the Royals were five clear when Thomas O'Reilly pointed assisted by O'Connor. Midfielders Menton and Ronan Jones assisted.

Wicklow outscored Meath by 0-4 to 0-2 over the remainder of the half. They might have had a goal in the 26th minute but fortunately for the home side corner-back Robin Clarke reacted well to turn the ball out for a 45.

Mark Jackson landed the subsequent 45. Before half-time was reached he added a second point from a free. Meath recorded three first-half wides while Wicklow had a clean sheet in that department.

O'Connor missed two scoreable frees in second quarter while Wicklow's Tom Moran saw fisted point attempt rebound off an upright.

By half-time Andy McEntee's men led by 2-5 to 0-7 before moving nine clear by the end of the third quarter when the contest had longed expired.

Scorers: Meath -  Jack O'Connor 1-3 (0-2 fs); Jordan Morris 0-4 (2fs);Bryan Menton 0-4; James McEntee 1-0; Mathew Costello 1-0; Jack Flynn 1-0; Thomas O'Reilly 0-2.

Wicklow - Mark Jackson 0-4 (0-2fs 2 45s); Eoin Darcy 0-4 (fs); Oisin McGraynor 1-0; Padraig O'Toole 0-2, Rory Stokes 0-1, Kevin Quinn 0-1.

Meath - Harry Hogan; Robin Clarke, Conor McGill, Eoin Harkin; Jason Scully, Donal Keogan, Cathal Hickey; Bryan Menton, Ronan Jones; James McEntee, Cillian O’Sullivan, Jack O’Connor; Jordan Morris, Thomas O’Reilly, Joey Wallace. Subs - Ronan Ryan for Hickey (ht), Mathew Costello for Wallace (38), Jack Flynn for Jones (60), Shane Walsh for Scully (62), Jordan Muldoon for Harkin (64),

Wicklow - Mark Jackson; Malachy Stone, Patrick O'Keane, Tom Moran; Nicky Devereaux, Andy Maher, Zach Cullen; Padraig O'Toole, JP Hurley; Rory Stokes, Dean Healy, Darragh Fitzgerald; Mark Kenny, Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy. Subs - Oisin McGraynor for Hurley (47), Oisin Cullen for Stokes (54), Aaran Murphy for Devereaux (64), Jack Kirwan for Darcy (68), Matthew Traynor for O'Toole (70 + 2)

Referee - Paul Faloon (Down)

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