Liam McKinney to the fore as Donegal hurlers end Christy Ring campaign in style

Donegal made light work of the Royals on Saturday afternoon in Trim and an inspired performance from Liam McKinney, who finished with an incredible tally of 0-16, was the backbone of a high-scoring showing from the Ulster side.

Due to results elsewhere, this game was something of a dead rubber. At the throw-in, it was not impossible for Meath to still qualify from the group, but it was very unlikely.

Donegal were playing for pride and they certainly did their county proud with a fine performance. The Royals, on the other hand, appeared sluggish and lacked intensity. 

They were maybe still feeling the effects of a heavy defeat to Wicklow the previous week.

Donegal dominated the early exchanges but were a little bit wasteful in front of the posts. 

McKinney handed them an early two-point lead with a brace of points.

Meath finally got their act together after eight minutes and rattled off 1-3 in quick succession. 

Nicky Potterton provided the goal when he cut in from the right-hand side with incredible pace and produced a wonderful finish. Damien Healy, Padraig O'Hanrahan and Jack Regan all got their tallies underway and Meath led 1-3 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.

The sides traded blows before a brace of Conor Gartland points brought Donegal back to within two points. A nice move from Meath was polished off by Sean Quigley, before Donegal hit 0-5 without reply to take a 0-10 to 1-5 lead after 22 minutes.

Regan got the Royals back on track with two dead balls, but Donegal increased their advantage with two more from McKinney and one from corner forward Sean Ward.

In the final five minutes of the opening half, Donegal outscored Meath 0-5 to 0-1,  which included another three points from McKinney. That brought his tally for the half to 0-9. 

Donegal held a 0-18 to 1-9 lead at the interval.

McKinney picked up where he left off in the second half as he scored the first three points after the restart, all of which were frees.

Regan and McKinney traded blows again before Nicky Potterton was brought down inside the large rectangle and Meath were awarded a penalty.

With the wind at his back, Regan expertly dispatched the sliotar to the back of the Donegal net.

A rather heated scuffle between several players from either side resulted in two men getting their marching orders. Kevin Kealy received a straight red while James Toher was given a second yellow.

The sending offs created a bit more space, which seemed to suit the Royals as they hit the next three points, two for Regan and one from James Kelly. With five minutes left on the clock, Donegal led by 0-23 to 2-13.

Donegal began to shift momentum once more in their favour. Points from McKinney, Russell Forde, and Brian MacIntyre extended the gap to seven.

39-year-old Mickey Burke, who was having a stormer of a game even though his side were losing, added his name to the scoresheet. 

A late Cian Rogers goal gave Meath hope, but that was all the Royals had to offer as John Kealy wrapped up proceedings with a well-struck point.

Donegal scorers; Liam McKinney 0-16,13f; Peter Kelly 0-2; Conor Gartland 0-2; Kevin Kealy 0-2; Conor O’Grady 0-1; Brian MacIntyre 0-1; Sean Ward 0-1; Josh McGee Cronolly 0-1; Russell Forde 0-1; John Kealy 0-1.

Meath scorers: Jack Regan 1-7,6f,1pen; Cian Rogers 1-0; Nicky Potterton 1-0; Padraig Hanrahan 0-2; James Kelly 0-1; Sean Quigley 0-1; Damien Healy 0-1; Mickey Burke 0-1; James Toher 0-1.  

Donegal: Luke White; Oisin Kelly, Steven McBride, Gavin Browne; Conor O'Grady, Conor Gartland, Ryan Hilferty; Danny Cullen, Brian MacIntyre; Kevin Kealy, Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott; Sean Ward, Josh McGee Cronolly, Peter Kelly. 

Subs: Russell Forde for Ward (61); John Kealy for McGee Cronolly (62)  

Meath: Colm O'Riordan; Mickey Burke, Darragh Kelly, Sean Coloe; Kyle Donnelly, James Toher, Daire Shine; Joey Cole, Lorcan Byrne; Jack Regan, Kris Gorman, Padraig O'Hanrahan; Nicky Potterton, Damien Healy, Sean Quigley. 

Subs: Domhnall Rogers for Coloe (34) James Murray for Gorman, James Kelly for Quigley (50) Darren O'Higgins for O'Hanrahan (52), Cian Rogers for Cole (63)