Kerry promoted to Division 1B after Royal win in Trim

TALISMAN: Ronan Walsh's converted penalty made all the difference on the day. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Allianz HL Div 2: Kerry 2-18 Meath 0-18

Kerry are promoted to Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League following a scrappy six point win over Meath. The Kingdom will also face Laois in the Division 2 Final on Saturday next at O’Moore Park for a chance to out the cherry on top of a great league campaign.

It was a win fully deserved too but Kerry had to graft against a Meath side who wouldn't roll over and had play the final twenty five minutes of the game with only 14 players after wing forward Damien Healy, was issued with a straight red for a foul on Kyle O’Connor.

Meath welcomed Kerry to St Loman’s Park knowing that only a win over the Kingdom and an unlikely result in Castlebar - with Mayo needing to take down Westmeath - would suffice if the Royals were to have any chance of making the league final and promotion to Div 1B.

Kerry had the bit between their teeth early on with two points from Ronan Walsh and one from Colin Walsh. Meath squandered a number of scoring chances, shooting three wides and two into the Conor Bohane’s grasp.

The game's crucial moment came when Meath captain Dara Shine dragged down Colin Walsh in a goal scoring position, and referee Peter Owens issued him with a black card. That only left Ronan Walsh to fire home from the spot, which he did with aplomb blasting it low to Meath keeper Gavin King's left. 

Suddenly the Kingdom were 1-3 to a point in front.

The black card appeared to revitalize Meath though, and they outscored Kerry 0-5 to 0-2 in a blistering thirteen minute spell thanks to points from Damien Healy, three frees from Tom Shine and a point from Sean Doyle with Colin Walsh and Jason Diggins replying for the Kingdom.

Kerry suffered a body blow on the half-hour mark with the loss of ace marksman Oisin Maunsell after he picked up a knock. His replacement Padraig Boyle fired over a point with his first touch - despite not playing any hurling since last August.

Kerry upped the tempo before half time with a succession of points from Jordan Brick, Liam Og O’Connor (2), James O’Connor, Ronan Walsh and Tom Doyle as Kerry retired 1-12 to 0-8 at half time.

Meath's promotion hopes took a major hit three minutes into the second period when Ronan Walsh set up Tom Doyle to finish to the Meath net. Soon after points followed by Podge Boyle, and Kyle O’Connor and the Meath challenge was essentially killed off, as Kerry stretched 2-14 to 0-10 clear.

Despite being reduced to 14 men in the 45th minute, Meath never gave up and points from Shines Dara and Tom and Joey Cole soon had the lead back to six points but that was as close as Meath got. 

Scorers for Meath: T Shine (0-7, 6fs), D Shine (0-4,1f), L Byrne (0-2), P O’Halloran (65), D King (1f), J Cole, R Fagan and S Doyle (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kerry: R Walsh (1-4, 1-0 pen, 3fs, 1’65), T Doyle (1-1), P Boyle (0-4, 1f), C Walsh and Liam Og O’Connor (0-2 each), K O’Connor, J O’Connor, J Diggins, K Goulding and J Brick (0-1 each).

MEATH: G King; J Ennis, S Geraghty, L O’Connor, N Conroy, D Shine, S Ennis; J Cole, E Donegan; D Healy, T Shine; L Byrne, R Fagan, S Doyle, M Cole.

Subs: P O’Hanrahan for R Fagan (h/t), S Cole for S Doyle (55), J Walsh for E Donegan (62), K Mulligan for L O’Connor (71). 

KERRY: C Bohane; E Leen, S McGrath, K O’Connor; J O’Connor, J Diggins, M Leane; K Goulding, R Walsh; T Doyle, C Walsh, J Brick; M Slattery, D Casey, O Maunsell.

Subs: L Og O’Connor for D Casey (27), P Boyle for O Maunsell (29), L Rochford for M Slattery (60), E Murphy for J Diggins (60), A Segal for K Goulding (66).

Referee: P Hayes (Down).