Hurlers edged out in decider

Meath slumped on the final stage at Newbridge today when they lost the NHL Div 2B decider against London by two points, 1-14 to 1-16.

After playing with the substantial first-half wind Meath trailed at the break by 0-6 to 1-4.

Meath can have no complaints about that first-half deficit as they wasted a number of chances, tallied seven wides and wasted two gilt-edged goal chances.

London eased clear in the second-half and were ahead by 1-16 to 0-10 when Meath staged a late rally that included a Noel Kirby goal, it wasn't enough.

Meath – Shane McGann; Cormac Reilly, Damien Healy, William Mahady; James Kelly (0-1), James Toher (0-1), Sean Heavey; Stephen Donoghue, Stephen Morris; Eoin Marsh, Steven Clynch (0-8), Patrick Conneely (0-1); Adam Gannon, Mark O’Sullivan, Barry Slevin. Subs - Noel Kirby (1-0) for Gannon 24 mins, Peter Durnin (0-2) for Marsh 31m, Tom McGrath (0-1) for Slevin half-time, Bart Hanley for Donoghue 45m, Marsh for McGrath 67m.