Meath romp to victory at Casement
Antrim 0-13 Meath 5-12
Sean Boylan's Meath enjoyed a Belfast goal blitz in today's opening All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier as they netted five times in a facile defeat of Antrim.
The Royals, dumped out of the Leinster championship by Dublin earlier this month, fired in four first half goals to put one foot on the bus ride home at the interval - leading, as they did, by 4-4 to 0-7.
It was a bright opening for the Saffrons, who started with Moneyglass attacker Kevin Brady up front after fears over his foot injury. Ciaran Close pointed twice for the home side before Meath's goal-glut began.
A high dropping ball from Anthony Moyles in the fifth minute was picked out by Stephen Bray and he edged clear of the Antrim defence to fire past Paddy Murray.
Seven minutes later, Navan O'Mahony's man Bray was celebrating his second with a similar finish. Peadar Byrne then got the better of Andrew McClean to flick home Meath's third goal and tally up a 3-3 to 0-3 lead by the 21st-minute.
Another defensive error saw Antrim concede a fourth just before half-time when an attempted back pass was pushed onto a Saffron upright by Graham Geraghty and the former Arsenal soccer trialist reacted quickest to jab home the rebound.
Joe Sheridan's second goal of the championship on 66 minutes wrapped up a disappointing second half, which saw Sean Kelly stand out for the home side with three well-drilled points.
