After their comfortable opening round win over Dublin, Meath progressed to the semi final of the Leinster Under 17 Special football championship with this easy win over Carlow at Pairc Tailteann.

Meath 2-19 Carlow 0-4

Despite the scoreline the visitors gave a good account of themselves in the first half and but for some wayward shooting could have been a lot closer to the Royals at the break. Meath led at the interval 0-9 to 0-2.

As in the win over Dublin the Meath trio of Cian McBride, Shane Walsh and Jordan Morris were very impressive for the winners.

A fantastic catch from Cian McBride against Carlow

Morris got the old scoreboard working with the games first score after two minutes. Carlow captain Conor Doyle tied the game up a minute later and in the following five minutes the Barrowsiders dominated but hit four bad wides.

Meath regained control with five points without reply through Matthew Costello (2), Morris (2) and a fine effort from half back Oran Smullen while Carlow had to wait till the 22nd minute for their second score courtesy of full forward Andrew Kehoe.

Carlow's Hugh Dooley with Fergal Watters Meath

Meath finished out the half with three more points. Team captain Liam Byrne sent over a long range free, Morris added to his tally while Shane Walsh completed the scoring as the Royals went to the dressing rooms seven ahead.

Carlow were first toff the mark in the second half when Andrew Kehoe sent over a free to double his tally but from there on Meath took over. McBride dominated the middle sector and scores from Aaron Lynch, Morris (2) and Walsh put the home county 0-13 to 0-3 ahead by the 50th minute. Kehoe added his third point for Carlow after 23 minutes and that proved to be their last score. Influential midfielder Doyle was sent to the line and from there on Meath totally dominated. 

Shane Walsh gains possession for Meath

Full forward Morris set up Walsh for the games opening goal and the impressive number 14 followed this up with two points. Walsh was on hand to raise another green flag when Meath cut through the Carlow defence on the 27th minute. The same player added three points in the closing minutes to complete the rout. 

Meath join Kildare, Dublin and Laois in the semi finals.

Carlow's Tadgh Roche with Meath's Matthew Costello

Meath: Lee Brown; Sean Bannon, Conal Courtney, Michael Gavin, Oran Smullan 0-1, Liam Byrne 0-1, Michael Murphy, Colm Doherty, Fergal Waters, Cian McBride, Shane Walsh 2-5 Patrick Matthews, Aaron Lynch 0-1, Jordan Morris 0-8, Matthew Costello 0-3. Subs - Eoin Martin, Conor Harford, Jack O'Connor, Dylan Keating, Ronan O'Leary, Peter Martyn.

Carlow: Jamie Coogan, Senan Molloy, Tadgh Dooley, Jordan Kelly, Robert St. Ledger, Tadgh Roche, Cormac Lomax, Diarmuid Ruth, Conor Doyle o-1, Jamie Lunny, Hugh Dooley, Thomas Sheehan, Cathal O'Neill, Andrew Kehoe 0-3, Cathal Murray. Subs: TJ Kavanagh, Ronan Curran, Colin Byrne, Kyle O'Byrne, Dillon O'Toole

Referee: Noel Hand Louth

Back to the old scoreboard

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