Offaly pile more misery on Meath to keep final hopes alive

Offaly's bid to return to the Joe McDonagh Cup final remains on track after a five-goal mauling of Meath in Trim, the result piling on the misery for the beleaguered Royal County.

Former Under-20 star Charlie Mitchell helped himself to 1-07 as the visiting Faithful County made it back-to-back wins.

A week after leaking a neat half century tally to Laois (7-29), also in Trim, hosts Meath were always going to be up against it and ultimately slipped to a 21-point defeat.

But they did give Johnny Kelly's side a few nervous moments, particularly approaching half-time when Nicky Potterton, who top scored for Meath with 2-05, blasted a couple of stoppage time goals to leave just five points in it at the break.

That gave the Royals, under the interim management of Kilmesan's Steven Clynch, renewed hope having trailed by 12 at one stage during the opening half.

But a strong third quarter from Offaly put them back in pole position and they hit the afterburners again in the final 20 minutes or so with sub Adam Screeney, an All-Ireland U20 runner-up last year like Mitchell, proving influential.

The result leaves Offaly in a strong position to nail down a top-two finish and a final place as they seek to go one better than last year's final defeat to Carlow.

But Meath, the Christy Ring Cup holders, are in a tricky spot now after three straight defeats and they will view their clash with Westmeath next time out as a massive encounter in the context of the relegation battle.

Offaly, beaten by Laois in round one, never looked like slipping to a loss here despite Meath setting up with James Kelly as a sweeper and opened up a 1-04 to 0-02 lead after just seven minutes, thanks in part to Oisin Kelly's goal which was set up by full-forward Mitchell.