Kildare a step above meath in nhl opener
Meath hurlers now face a knock-out game in every round of the NHL Div 2B after they were well out-played in every sector today at Trim in the opener against Kildare.
Kildare won this contest by 10 points, a massive 0-24 to 0-14, and Meath also finished with 14 men after Damien Healy picked up a second yellow card in the closing stages.
The dismissal had no bearing on the result - it was as good as over at half-time when Kildare were ahead by 0-13 to 0-6 after playing with the benefit of the strong wind.
Some 10 players hit the target for Kildare and it was only due to a couple of remarkable saves by goalkeeper Charlie Bird that kept the scoreline somewhat respectable.
Bird's performance was the highlight of a dismal day for the recently-crowned Kehoe Cup champions - Meath won the Kehoe Cup last year and then lost in the first round to Wicklow.
Meath scorers: Anthony healy 0-7, Sean Heavey 0-2, Patrick Conneely, Willie McGrath, Jack Regan, Alan Douglas, Adam gannon 0-1 each.
RESULTS
Kildare 0-24, Meath 0-14
Down 1-13, Armagh 0-9
Mayo 3-14, Donegal 1-12
NHL DIV 2B P W D L F A Pts
Kildare 1 1 0 0 24 14 2
Mayo 1 1 0 0 23 15 2
Down 1 1 0 0 16 9 2
Armagh 1 0 0 1 9 16 0
Donegal 1 0 0 1 15 23 0
Meath 1 0 0 1 14 24 0
NEXT UP - SUNDAY 22nd FEBRUARY
Mayo v Meath
Kildare v Down
Armagh v Donegal