Meath claim NHL Div 2B title in fine style

Meath made it across the line in the NHL Div 2B final at the fourth attempt with a merited victory at Parnell Park in Dublin this evening with a 4-24 to 2-15 victory against Wicklow.

Three previous final appearances in 2B ended in defeats against Kildare twice and London in the past, but on this occasion Meath made no mistake despite a stern first-half test from the Wicklow men.

Meath were ahead by 2-9 to 2-6 at the interval after a tightly-contested opening half, but a barnstorming start to the second period saw Meath take a significant step towards the title.

Meath reeled off 1-6 without reply after the resumption to establish a 3-15 to 2-6 lead with Mark O'Sullivan adding the third goal.

O'Sullivan also found the net twice in the opening half as the sides matched each other on the scoreboard during the mid-part of the first period.

Christy Moorehouse and Andy O'Brien were the Wicklow goalscorers, but it was Meath's ability to pick off the points that was also crucial.

The Meath points in the opening half were scored by Steven Clynch (four), O'Sullivan (two), Damien Healy, Joey Keena and James Kelly.

That whirlwind start to the second-half, with O'Sullivan's third goal inside a minute, was augmented when Trim clubman and second-half substitute Neil Heffernan finished to the net in the 65th minute

Another substitute, Sean Quigley, had the distinction of scoring the
last point to complete a 15-point victory.

The win will surely boost confidence ahead of this year's return to the Leinster SHC round robin later this month with games against Kerry, Laois and Westmeath.

Meath - Shane McGann; Sean Geraghty, Shane Whitty, Cormac Reilly; Shane Brennan, Darragh Kelly, Keith Keoghan; Anthony Forde, Joey Keena; Kevin keena, Damien Healy, James Kelly; Adam Gannon, Steven Clynch, Mark O'Sullivan. Subs - Neil Heffernan for K Keena, Sean Quigley for Reilly, Padraig kelly for D Kelly, Michael O'Grady for J Kelly, Gavin McGowan for J keena.

Wicklow - E O'Mahony; L Maloney, M O'Brien, W Kavanagh; G Byrne, J Henderson, P Keane; E Kearns, R Keddy; D Staunton, C Moorehouse, D Masterson; G O'Brien, A O'Brien, P Doyle. Subs - E Dunne for Maloney, E McCormack for Doyle, W Kinsella for Masterson.

Leinster SHC Round Robin

Sunday 23rd April -Meath v Kerry, Pairc Tailteann, 3pm.  

Sunday 30th April - Meath v Laois, Pairc Tailteann, 3pm. 

Sunday 14th May - Westmeath v Meath, Mullingar, 3pm.