Derry’s hurlers yesterday suffered a heavy defeat to Meath to crash out of the Kehoe Cup at the semi-final stage.
Meath ran out easy winners on a scoreline of 0-21 to 0-10 in a tough encounter in tough encounter in Trim.
Derry were only four points behind at half-time despite being reduced to 14 men when full-forward Ruairi Convery was shown a straight red card in the 19th minute.
The Swatragh man had put two frees over the bar before his dismissal.
Shortly before the break, the Oakleafers were lucky not to be reduced to 13 men when Dublin referee Dónal O hÁrrachtáin showed a yellow card to Sean McCullagh for an offence many believed should have seen full-back sent off.
Three points from Alan Grant and one from Paul Cleary saw Derry trail 0-6 to 0-10 at half-time.
Meath looked good in that opening half and were in the ascendancy before the red-card incident and were well worth that interval advantage.
Meath took advantage of the extra man and a strong breeze to run out comfortable winners to book place in next Sunday’s final against Kildare.