Allianz HL D2: Kildare and Kerry explode out of the blocks

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE RESULTS

DIVISION 2A

Down v Offaly Sunday

Kerry 1-22 Derry 0-14

Kildare 0-25 Carlow 0-11

One local derby and one contest between two counties at opposite ends of the island both ended in a similar fashion yesterday afternoon, as Kildare and Kerry recorded landslide victories over Carlow and Derry respectively.

Carlow and Kildare drew when they met in last years league at St. Conleths Park, but the Lily Whites produced some excellent hurling in the second half of yesterdays fixture at Netwatch Cullen Park, as they outscored Carlow by treble scores in that time.

Kevin McDonald and Richard Coady struck some good points to keep Carlow in contention early on after they fell behind by 0-5 to 0-1, but James Burke rifled over 0-11, 0-9 from frees, while a total of of ten Kildare players scored from play as they moved through the gears after half-time to pick up a comfortable win.

Kerry also kicked on late against a Derry side that has lost a lot of key players from the side that gained promotion to Division 2A, but new manager Johnny McGarvey will take a lot of encouragement from how his side performed against the 2022 Joe McDonagh finalists in the first 50 minutes, at which point they trailed by just two points, 0-16 to 0-14, at Celtic Park.

With top scorer Cormac ODoherty deployed as a sweeping defender, James Friel took over freetaing duty for the Oak Leaf men, who were boosted by an early red card for Kerrys Colin Walsh. Derry were full of energy and tenacity, and while Daniel Collins, Dan Goggin and Shane Conway struck some classy points for the Kingdom, they struggled to shake off their hosts.

A somewhat fortunate long-range goal from Paudie OConnor sucked the life out of Derry however, and they were over-run in the final quarter, conceding six points without replay on top of the games only goal.

DIVISION 2B

Donegal 1-16 Sligo 0-15

Meath 2-24 Wicklow 2-14

Tyrone 1-26 London 3-18

Meath took a huge step towards bouncing back up to Division 2A at the first attempt when they made light of the loss of star man Damien Healy to a straight red card, and the concession of a goal to Senie Germaine just before half-time, to over-run Wicklow in the second half of their clash with the Garden County at Pirc Tailteann.

That made it 0-12 to 1-6 at half-time, but Meath had the game won by the three quarter mark as they led by 1-19 to 2-6 and eased home from there. Sen Quigley got their first goal, Podge OHanrahan was in sublime form from placed balls, with two 65s and a sideline cut in his 0-11 tally, while Trims James Toher controlled the tie from centre back. Andy OBrien struck Wicklows second-half goal against the run of play, while Mikey Cole came off the bench to tack on a late goal for the home side.

Donegal made home advantage count at ODonnell Park in Letterkenny, where Gerard Gilmore got the games only goal and Sligo will live to regret their failure to take advantage of more than enough possession, and their accumulation of 16 wides.

Conor Hannify, Niall Kilcullen and Joe McHugh fired over points for Sligo in the second half to put the Connacht county back in the mix, but Declan Coulter, who ended the day with eight points, shot four of those late on to nudge his team over the line for the win.

Emotions ran high at the Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh club, where Tyrone won their first league game played since the death of local club man Damien Casey thanks to a strong finish against London.

Mickey Little took over the mantle of freetaker, a role Casey performed in great style throughout his career, and Little delivered in the same vein, striking 0-11 for the home side.

Kerry import Jack Goulding struck two goals for the Exiles, though Littles scoring and a goal from Lorcan Devlin kept Tyrones noses in front.

London threatened a win when Niall Broderick scrambled home a goal with ten minutes to play, but Tyrone finished stronger to prevail.