Meath 7-14

Wicklow 0-7

Meath ran riot at Aughrim to hammer Wicklow by 28 points and qualify for a Leinster SFC semi-final meeting with either Kildare or Offaly in mightily impressive fashion.

What was widely viewed as a potential banana skin proved to be anything but as the Royals roasted the home side to register one of their biggest-ever championship wins. The gulf in class between Division 1 and 4, where the two teams plied their trade this year, was clear for all to see as Jordan Morris marked his championship debut with a brilliant 3-4. The Nobber sharpshooter had earned his first start after scoring 0-7 off the bench against Monaghan in the final round of the Allianz League a fortnight ago.

Fellow debutant Matthew Costello was also among the goals, with Bryan Menton and subs Joey Wallace and Cathal Hickey raising the other green flags. The result ended the Royals' 16-month wait for a win and provides Wicklow with a major reality check after they had beaten Wexford twice in the last two weekends to earn league promotion and make a winning start to the championship.

The visitors signalled their intent with a goal from Morris in the ninth minute after Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson was dispossessed by Thomas O'Reilly. That gave them a 1-2 to 0-0 lead and the next score didn't arrive until the 21st minute when Dean Healy finally opened the hosts' account. 

Bryan McMahon replied with a brace of points before Costello took a return pass from O'Reilly and blasted home the Royals' second goal on the half-hour. Menton grabbed a third major for Andy McEntee's men two minutes later with a low finish to the net which sent them into the break with a commanding 3-6 to 0-3 lead. Wicklow's only other first half points came from Jackson frees.

Meath’s Joey Wallace collides with Patrick O’Keane of Wicklow. ©INPHO.

Davy Burke's charges were more competitive after the restart and outscored the visitors by 0-2 to 0-1 in the first 13 minutes. But with the Meath bench having a big impact, the Gardenmen were put to the sword in the final quarter. Wallace netted the winners' fourth goal in the 57th minute before Cathal Hickey struck a fifth in the 69th minute.

There was no respite for the home side in injury-time when Wallace won two penalties which Morris expertly converted.

Meath - M Brennan; S Lavin, C McGill, D Toner; D Keogan, Ronan Ryan, M Costello (1-0); B Menton (1-1), R Jones; C O'Sullivan (0-1), B McMahon (0-2), S McEntee (0-1); J Morris (3-4, 0-1f), S Walsh (0-3, 1f), T O'Reilly. Subs: J Wallace (1-0) for T O'Reilly, E Devine for B Menton, J Scully for B McMahon, J Conlon (0-2) for C O'Sullivan, C Hickey (1-0) for D Keogan, E Harkin for D Toner.

Wicklow - M Jackson (0-2f); E Murtagh, J Snell, P O'Keane; D Devereux, N Donnelly, D Hayden; P O'Toole, D Healy (0-1); R Finn, M Kenny, A Maher (0-1); C Byrne, S Furlong (0-2f), E Darcy (0-1). Subs: S Kearon for D Devereux, R O'Brien for J Snell, C Healy for C Byrne.

Referee - C Branagan.

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