Divilly spurs Kildare

Starting and finishing strongly, Kildare got off to a winning start in Division 2B of the Allianz Hurling League at Navan’s Pairc Tailteann.

Boosted by a Pol Divilly goal, the visitors dominated the early exchanges to lead by 1-2 to 0-0 after six minutes.

The advantage could have been more but for a string of wides and a couple of fine saves by Shane McGann.

However, with Stephen Clynch raising hopes with two long-range frees, Meath worked their way into contention and trailed by two points (0-7 to 1-6) at the break. The odds were on a home victory when points from Noel Kirby and Peter Durnin had them 0-11 to 1-7 ahead in the last quarter.

However, those scores seemed to spur on Kildare more as they responded with points from David Harney, Johnny Enright and Conor Kenny.

Scorers for Kildare: P Divilly 1-2, 0-1 f, L Quinn 0-3, R Hoban, f and 65, C Kenny 0-2 each, M Maloney, D Harney, J Enright, f, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: N Horan 0-5, 5 fs, S Clynch 0-3, 2fs, N Kirby 0-2, E Marsh, P Durnin, S Donoghue 0-1 each.

KILDARE: P Dermody; P Keegan, F O Muineachain, J Doran; E O’Neill, R Hoban, N O Muineachain; M Purcell, D Butler; C Kenny, M Maloney, P Divilly; T Murphy, D Harney, L Quinn.

Subs: J O’Malley for O’Neill, J Enright for Purcell (both h-t), M Fitzgerald for Murphy (45), C Gallagher for Dermody, K Divilly for Butler (both 60).

MEATH: S McGann; W Mahady, E Fitzgerald, C Reilly; S Heavy, P Fagan, E Keogh; S Clynch, S Donoghue; E Marsh, N Kirby, K Keoghan; D Raleigh, N Horan, P Durnin. Subs: M Cole for Keoghan (56), J Kelly for Raleigh ((58).

Referee: E Shaughnessy (Galway).