Meath negotiate Westmeath in Leinster MHL opener

Meath opened their Leinster MHL campaign with a thoroughly deserved 2-15 to 1-15 victory against Westmeath at St Loman's in Mullingar this afternoon.

Meath completely dominated the opening half and were ahead by 2-9 to 0-6 at the interval with Mikey Mullen and Brian Dowling scoring the goals.

Dowling's pace made the opening for the first goal in the seventh minute and soon after Mullen found the net when his free from about 30 metres deflected off a Westmeath defender.

Mullen finished the half with five points to his credit and added three more in the second-half as Meath stood up to a strong Westmeath challenge.

Meath will play Roscommon in the second round in the three-team group next Saturday at 2.30pm and a victory will secure top spot in the group.

Meath - Aaron Dunne (Killyon); Brian O'Reilly (Killyon), Cormac Butler (Ratoath), Sean Coffey (Na Fianna); Jamie Connolly (Longwood), Jamie Leavy (Dunderry), Brin Kelly (Kildalkey); Evan Fitzgerald (Kildalkey 0-2); Daire Gilmartin (Dunboyne); Tom Fadden (Ratoath), Adam Murphy (Kiltale 0-2), Jacob Ryan (Killyon); Brian Dowling (Trim 1-2), Michael Farrell (Dunboyne), Mikey Mullen (Killyon 1-8 three frees). Subs - Nicky Potterton (Kildalkey 0-1) for Gilmartin 36 mins, Darren Hennessy (Ratmolyon) for O'Reilly 45m, Vincent Ward (Rathmolyon) for Ryan 48m