Strong team named for NHL Div 2A opener

Published: Sat 27 Jan 2018, 8:01 AM

New Meath hurling manager Nick Fitzgerald has named a very attacking looking side for Sunday's NHL Div 2A opener away to Kildare in Newbridge, 2pm.
Christy Ring Cup winning captain James Toher and the 2018 captain James Kelly return to the team and are named in a very strong half-back line, while Kiltale's Jubilee Cup winning captain is back in the fold and named at number 14 for the clash with Kildare.
Fitzgerald has made seven changes from the team that lost by 12 points to Westmeath in the Leinster SHC last May with Shane Whitty, Steven Clynch, Cormac Reilly, Sean Geraghty, Kevin Keena and Mark O'Sullivan not on Sunday's panel for varying reasons, while Shane Brennan drops to the bench.
In comes Kelly, Toher, Regan, Longwood's Chris Lynch, Boardsmill's Niall Weir, Donaghmore /Ashbourne's Colm O Mealoid and Kildalkey's Paddy Conneely.

Meath - Shane McGann (Kiltale); Anthony Forde (Kiltale), Keith Keoghan (Killyon), Chris Lynch (Longwood); James Kelly (Kiltale), Damien Healy (Longwood), James Toher (Trim); Darragh Kelly (Ratoath), Adam Gannon (Killyon); Niall Weir (Boardsmill), Colm Ó Méalóid (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Joey Keena (Kilmessan); Paddy Conneely (Kildalkey), Jack Regan (Kiltale), Neil Heffernan (Trim). Subs - Paul Fagan (Kildalkey), Cathal McCabe (Kiltale), Eamon Ó Donnchadha (Clann na nGael), Seán Quigley (Dunboyne), Padraig Kelly (Kiltale), Eoin Marsh (Kilmessan), Shane Brennan (Kilmessan), Sean McGrath (Dunboyne), Michael Cullen (Trim), Michael O’Grady (Dunboyne), Jack Walsh (Navan O’Mahonys).