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

http://youtu.be/ZRAkHUrYisE