Hurlers edged out in final by kildare
Meath just came up short in the NHL Div 2B final today at Cusack Park, Mullingar when they were edged out by Kildare by five points (0-17 to 0-22) in a high-scoring game.
Jack Regan got Meath off the mark from a seventh minute pointed free after Willie McGrath was fouled and the Kiltale man added a second soon after. That kept Meath in touch after Kildare had forged three clear from a brace of Mark Delaney frees and a fine effort from play by Leo Quinn.
Further points from Johnny Byrne le Bernard Deay eased Kildare into what looked like a comfortable lead, but Reegan had a chance to tie the scores when Meath's Gary Kelly was hauled down by Niall O Muineachain for a penalty.
Regan's effort skimmed the top of the crossbar, but he made amends for that when he reduced the deficit to the minimum with a well-taken effort from play.
Kildare still looked sharper and forged further ahead when Delaney converted another free, but Meath eventually regained parity from a 20th minute Regan free and an opportunist Wille McGrath effort from play after he picked up possession from a short Kildare puck-out.
It continued point-for-point with Quinn splitting the Meath posts beore Kelly and Regan gave Meath the advantage for the first time.
Kildare replied with a long-range point from wing-back Eanna O'Neill, but Regan pointed Meath ahead again. Kildare replied with a brace to lead again as Evan Dempsey and Delaney (free) were on target.
Predictably, the sides traded a further points apiece as Regan and Delaney (free) closed the first-half scoring with Kildare shading the exchanges by 0-11 to 0-10 on the way to the dressing rooms.
The pattern remained for the second-half with Kildare always in the ascendancy as they added a further 11 points with Delaney and Leo Quinn each adding three points and Dempsey (two), Deay, Ryan Casey and Paul Divilly completing the tally.
Hard-working Meath managed to stay in touch throughout, but were always playing cathc up as points from Regan (two), Kelly, Alan Douglas, James Toher, Adam Gannon and Jack Fagan sustained the challenge.
They also had two goal chances late in the game from Fagan and Regan, but solid defending from Kildare saved the Lilywhites.
Meath – Charlie Bird (Boardsmill); Cormac Reilly (Navan O'Mahonys), Shane Brennan (Kilmessan), Neil McLoughlin (Boardsmill); Keith Keoghan (Killyon), Damien Healy (Longwood), Padraig Keogh (Kildalkey); Shane Whitty (Blackhall Gaels), James Toher (Trim 0-1); Stephen Morris (Blackhall Gaels), Gary Kelly (Kildalkey (0-2)), Alan Douglas (Trim 0-1); Jack Regan (Kiltale 0-10), Michael Dunne (Dunboyne), Willie McGrath (Moylagh 0-1). Subs – Jack Fagan(0-1) for Dunne and Sean Heavey for Morris both half-time, Adam Gannon (0-1) for Kelly 66 mins
Kildare – P Dermody; N O Muineacháin, M Grace, J Doran; D Stapleton, M Fitzgerald, E O'Neill (0-1); M Moloney, P Divilly (0-1); M Delaney (0-8), L Quinn (0-5), J Byrne (0-1); E Dempsey (0-3), N Kenny, B Deay (0-2). Sub – Ryan Casey (0-1) for Kenny 65 mins.
Referee – Colum Cunning (Antrim).