Returning duo to bolster Meath promotion bid after win over Kildare

The Royals bounced back from their loss in Cork with a strong performance on Saturday night.

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026 - 07:29

Paul Keane

Meath 1-21 Kildare 0-10

Meath's promotion bid looks set to be boosted by the return of two key players for their remaining Division 2 games.

Former captain Ronan Jones and his Dunboyne clubmate Jack Kinlough could both be back in time for their Round 6 clash with Tyrone at Croke Park.

Jones has only appeared once as a sub in the last 12 months, due to a serious hamstring injury, while Kinlough suffered an ACL injury last April.

The duo will bolster Meath's middle third options with two group games left, against Tyrone on March 14, and then Offaly away the following weekend.

The Royals bounced back from their Round 4 loss in Cork with a strong performance on Saturday night, crushing Kildare and improving their scoring difference with a 14-point win.

"Ronan Jones was back on the pitch last Tuesday and doing a nice little bit and Jack Kinlough as well I would hope again to be available for the Tyrone game, so they're all starting to drift back in," said Meath manager Robbie Brennan.

Brennan will be hoping to have attackers Mathew Costello and James Conlon fit for the Red Hands clash also after both missed the Kildare game.

Last season's All-Ireland semi-finalists still had too much for the Tailteann Cup champions who slumped to their third consecutive defeat.

Jordan Morris tore the Lilies defence asunder with 1-5, all from play, to bring his Division 2 takings to 2-22. It was a strong defensive effort, full of intensity with both Donal Keogan and Ciarán Caulfield punishing Kildare with powerful runs from deep.

Goalkeeper Seán Brennan rounded off an easy evening for Meath with three late free conversions, two from outside the arc. There were League debuts too for Charlie O'Connor and former U-20 star Jamie Murphy.

All told, it was a significant improvement from the loss in Cork and has left Meath close to securing promotion.

"We were definitely too open against Cork," said Brennan. "A lot of that was down to Cork and the powerful running and things like that. But we went after that, trying to close that up and I think, for instance, our scramble defence was phenomenal. We always know that if we get that reaction, then we're on it. And the same if we don't. It happened early doors against Kildare and I was kind of happy to see that."

Meath led 1-7 to 0-1 after the opening quarter, were seven points up at half time and while they struck seven second-half wides still weren't flattered by their 14-point win.

"The first half probably vindicated the lads' efforts and approach during the week," said Brennan. "Then it was a case of, could we learn the lessons from previous games because we were in the same positions against Louth and Cavan and we stepped off and thankfully we didn't this time."

Kildare's Alex Beirne took a heavy hit to the shoulder from All-Star Meath defender Seán Rafferty and went off, adding to their lengthy injury list. Ryan Sinkey, James McGrath, Ben McCormack and Jimmy Hyland didn't feature at all while Kevin Feely was only fit to come on.

Brian Flanagan's side, who have a free pass to the Sam Maguire Cup as Tailteann Cup holders, are stuck on three points with a trip to Cork up next on March 14.

Meath scorers: J Morris (1-5); S Brennan (0-5, 2 tpf, 0-1 45); J O'Connor (0-4); R Kinsella (0-2); A Lynch, E Frayne, J Flynn, C O'Connor, K Curtis (0-1 each).

Kildare scorers: B Loakman (2 frees), B McLoughlin (1 tp) (0-3 each); D Kirwan (0-2, 1 tp); A Beirne (1 free), C Moran 0-1 each.

Meath: S Brennan; B O'Halloran, S Lavin, S Rafferty; D Keogan, S Coffey, C Caulfield; B Menton, J Flynn; J O'Connor, R Kinsella, A O'Neill; J Morris, E Frayne, A Lynch.

Subs: Ronan Ryan for Lavin (35-h/t); C McBride for Menton (36-41); O Martin for O'Connor (43); McBride for O'Neill (49); K Curtis for Lynch (54); C O'Connor for Menton (54-59); J Scully for Kinsella (65); J Murphy for Frayne (67).

Kildare: C Burke; B Byrne, P Spillane, H O'Neill; J Harris, E Lawlor, J McKevitt; C Bolton, B Gibbons; C Dalton, D Kirwan, C Moran; B McLoughlin, A Beirne, B Loakman.

Subs: R Burke for McKevitt (21); K Feely for Beirne (h/t); E Cully for Moran (43); S Doran for Dalton (54); L Kelly for O'Neill (61).

Ref: S Hurson (Tyrone).