Royals deliver revenge to Ex-Pats in NHL opener

Johnny Greville's fresh looking Meath side were comfortable winners over London on Saturday in Trim. fresh-looking

Meath 1-20

London 1-10

Revenge for last year’s Christy Ring opener was delivered by the Royals on Saturday in Trim as a superb first-half goal from Mikey Cole inspired Meath to a comfortable victory over London in the opening round of the NHL Div 2.

The Royals may have pulled away from the visitors in the second-half but it was their outstanding work-rate and determination into a strong breeze in the first half that proved crucial.

Mikey Cole’s goal after six minutes drew the sides level after London got the better of the early exchanges. Five minutes later, after he made an error that led to London being awarded a penalty, Gavin King pulled off a super save to deny David Devine from the spot.

After a scrappy second quarter, there was nothing to separate the sides on the scoreboard at half-time. Meath rattled of 0-6 on the spin after the restart before London were reduced to 14 men. Paul Kennedy’s goal in the 55th minute gave the Royals’ supporters some cause for concern but Meath finished strong and sealed an important win in their first outing of the league campaign.

After London raced into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, Mikey Cole superbly controlled the sliotar on his stick before finishing beautifully past Mark Kilgannon to edge the Royals in front.

Five minutes later, King spilled a long ball that London had sent into the danger zone and Jarlath Ennis was left with no option but to foul Fionn Whelan in the large rectangle. The Na Fianna (Dublin) club man recovered very well though as he pulled off a super outstretched save to deny Devine from the resulting penalty.

London rattled off two points on the spin through Fionn O’Riain Broin and Kennedy to lead by 0-6 to 1-2 after 20 minutes. Meath responded with a brace of points from Tom Shine and Mikey Cole. A late score from London’s Dylan Dawson earned his side a share of the lead at the break, 0-8 to 1-5.

With the wind at their back, Meath came flying out of the blocks after the restart and rattled off six points on the spin in the space of eight minutes. Three of those scores came from the hurl of Tom Shine while his brother Daire Shine, Mikey Cole and Joey Cole also contributed.

Having been announced as captain of the Meath hurlers for 2026, Daire Shine led by example and contributed his second-point to hand Meath a 1-12 to 0-9 lead after 47 minutes.

London were reduced to 14 men when Conor Byrne was given his marching orders for a second yellow offence. The Royals made good use of their numerical advantage and hit three points in a row through Tom Shine, Eoin Donegan and Conor Leavy. After 55 minutes, Meath led by 10 points.

Paul Kennedy who scored a brace of goals in London’s win over the Royals in 2025 gave his side a sliver of hope when he found the back of King’s net. Devine followed up with a point but that transpired to be the Ex Pats' last contribution to the scoreboard as Meath kicked on in the final quarter. Dead-ball scores from King and Tom Shine solidified a comfortable win and a superb first outing in the league for Johnny Greville’s side

Meath - Gavin King (0-1 one free); Conor Leavy (0-1), Daire Shine (0-2), Jarlath Ennis; Darragh Heffernan, Simon Ennis, Sean Geraghty; Lorcan Byrne, Tom Shine (0-8 six frees); Damien Healy (0-1), Joey Cole (0-1), Eoin Donegan (0-2); Mark Leavy (0-2), Mikey Cole (1-2) Sub - Sean Doyle for Donegan 60m, Cathal Barron for D O’Higgins 63m, Jack Walsh for Healy 65m, Rory Fagan for M Cole 71m, Fergal Flynn for M Leavy 72m.

London - Mark Kilgannon; Barry Morrissey, Michael Moran, Niall Fitzgerald; Stephen Whelan, Conor Byrne, Padraig Muldoon; Paul Kennedy (1-2), Orann Donnelly; Ruairi Cummins, Tom Hanifin, Dylan Dawson (0-2); Fionn O’Riain Broin (0-2 one free), Fionn Whelan, David Devine (0-3 one free). Subs - Donnacha Leahy (0-1) for Cummins, Jack Loughnane for Padraig Muldoon both half-time, Oisin Slattery for Broin 48m, Cillian Davoren for Hanifin 63m, Evan Kelly for Donnelly 65m.

Referee - Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)