Offaly celebrate a goal in their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC victory over Meath.
Electric Ireland Leinster minor hurling championship Tier 2, Group 1, Round 1
OFFALY 2-14 MEATH 2-11
WESTMEATH 5-22 WICKLOW 1-10
By Paul Keane
Captain Odhran Fletcher was central to a remarkable revival as Offaly conjured two late goals to get their Electric Ireland Leinster MHC campaign off to a winning start.
A strong first quarter and a storming finish ultimately did the trick for the hosts in Birr but they lived dangerously in between as visitors Meath rallied superbly.
Ray O'Connor's Royals turned an early five-point deficit into a five-point lead by the 52nd minute of the opening game in the province.
But two Offaly frees from almost identical positions out on the right wing at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, in the 53rd and 64th minutes, weren't cleared and ended up in goals which won it for the Faithful.
Fletcher took both frees with Darragh Phelan capitalising on the first delivery to strike to the net and the free-taker's second possibly travelled all the way through a crowded goalmouth to the net.
Several Offaly players, including James Kirwan and Macdara Mitchell, were in the vicinity as the ball evaded Meath's entire rearguard.
What's certain is that it was a sickening blow for Meath who must have suspected they'd done enough to at least claim a draw.
Louis McIvor was terrific for Meath and after falling 0-1 to 0-6 behind after a bright Offaly opening, Donaghmore-Ashbourne talent McIvor netted from a 23rd minute penalty to haul them right back.
Kilmessan's Conor Horan was also on the mark with a crucial point as Meath hit the interval trailing 1-5 to 0-10.
Points from McIvor and Callum Buckley after the restart levelled the game, 1-7 to 0-10, before Kosei Kirwan struck Meath's second goal in the 39th minute.
Back to back McIvor points left Meath 2-10 to 0-11 clear and they were still a point up early in stoppage time but Jack Dunican levelled it for Offaly, 1-14 to 2-11, before that late, late match winning goal.
Meanwhile, Westmeath hit Wicklow hard and early in the other Tier 2, Group 1 opening round game.
A Westmeath goal from a 20-metre free in the 16th minute opened the floodgates and the Lake County were 3-13 to 0-5 clear at half-time.
They added two more goals after the restart to surge to a 24-point win, teeing them up nicely for a home game against Meath on April 12. Wicklow, for whom Daniel Duffy struck their only goal in Arklow, will be back in action on April 5, also against Meath.
