Cold shower for Meath as Derry prove far too strong

Derry cruised to a third successive Division 2 victory after dismantling a previously unbeaten Meath by 11 points in what proved an Owenbeg stroll on Saturday evening.

Ethan Doherty's goal only 45 seconds into the contest proved the prelude to the most emphatic of displays, Meath never looking capable of laying a glove on the Ulster champions who looked back to something like last season's best after indifferent performances in victory against Limerick and Louth.

Doherty's goal was added to by another from Niall Toner in first half injury time but really Derry could have scored as many as they wished, Meath's somewhat naive game-plan constantly handing their hosts back possession with long passes played in hope rather than expectation.

Derry made one change from the side that defeated Louth in Ardee, Padraig Cassidy in for Lachlan Murray while Colm O'Rourke named Thomas O'Reilly and Brian Conlan to replace the injured Shane Walsh and midfielder Dathi McGowan.

The counties went into the encounter with identical early league records of two wins from two but there the similarities between the teams ended in a one sided first half that. Doherty's opening goal arrived after only 45 seconds and was the signal for wave after wave of Derry attack that had the game all but over as a contest by the short whistle.

The home side did manage to amass a healthy 2-07 to Meath's measly return of 0-03 after Toner added a second major in first half injury time but the home side also passed up at least 1-05 in very scorable chances.

The Royals' insistence on the long ball in played into hosts' hands, with every inevitable turnovers resulting in numerous scorable chances at the opposite end of the field.

Doherty's goal was a 'Glen' special as