Kerry got off to a winning start in the Christy Ring Cup at the expense of Down but holders Kildare were held to a draw by London.

The Kingdom inflicted a 2-17 to 2-10 defeat on the Mourne County with Padraig Boyle and Colm Harty netting the goals.

Eamon Kelly's charges, who clinched promotion to Division 1B recently, led by 2-7 to 1-5 at the break in Austin Stack Park.

Elsewhere, Kildare and London must meet again after they finished level on 2-23 apiece after extra-time in Ruislip today.

The scoreboard read Kildare 2-17, London 1-20 after 70 minutes and the two teams will renew acquaintances in Newbridge next weekend.

Meath, meanwhile, finished with 16 points to spare over Wicklow in Trim.

The Royals coasted to a 1-21 to 1-5 victory over the Garden County. Jack Fagan's goal boosted the hosts into a 1-12 to 0-2 interval lead.

In Owenbeg, Derry prevailed on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-11 against Mayo with substitute Deaglan Foley's injury-time free settling the home side's nerves.

With Kenny Feeney in top form, Mayo turned around with a 0-10 to 0-4 interval advantage but Tom McLean's Oak Leafers came from behind in the second half.

Kerry - S Murphy; D Fitzell, P Costello, K Carmody; S Weir, D Dineen (0-1), D Collins; J Griffin, P Kelly (0-4); M O'Leary (0-1), S Nolan (0-8, 7f), C Harty (1-0); M Boyle, P Boyle (1-1), J Egan (0-1). Subs: J O'Neill for M Boyle, T Casey for S Weir, D Butler (0-1) for J Egan, A Royle for M O'Leary, R Horgan for D Fitzell.

Down - S Keith; C O'Neill, C Cassidy, M Conlan; M McCullagh (0-1), P Flynn, D Hughes; S Dineen, M Hughes; C Woods (0-1f), G Johnson, D McManus; M Magee, D Toner (1-3), J Coyle (0-4, 2f). Subs: E Sands for M Magee, C Bailie for D McManus, C Egan (1-1) for G Johnson, P Sheehan for M McCullagh, M Nicholson for J Coyle.

Referee - J Keane.

**

London - J Barrett; C Hickey, L Gaule, K Fitzpatrick; C McAllindin, M Ryan, T Healy; E Cooney (0-3), N Rogers (0-3); P Phelan (0-5, 3f, 1'65), N Brophy (0-1), M Duggan (1-2); M Ivors (0-2), M O'Dwyer, B Gaffney (0-4, 1f). Subs: D Morkan (0-1) for C McAllindin, S Lambert (0-2, 1f) for N Brophy, H Vaughan for B Gaffney, P Murphy for P Phelan, P Phelan for M O'Dwyer, L Hands (1-0) for M Ivors, B Gaffney for P Murphy.

Kildare - P Dermody; N O'Muineachain, M Grace, J Doran; D Young (0-1), M Fitzgerald (0-1), E O'Neill; M Moloney (1-0), P Divilly (0-2); J Byrne (0-2), L Quinn (0-3), B Deay (0-2); R Casey, N Kenny, M Delaney (0-7, 5f). Subs: E Dempsey (0-1) for R Casey, G Keegan (1-4) for N Kenny, D Stapleton for L Quinn, D Flaherty for M Delaney.

Referee - S Cleere.

**

Derry - D McDermott; M Warnock, C Quinn, S McCullagh; A Rafferty, C McSorley, K Hinphey; S McGuigan, B Quigley; P McCloskey, P Cleary, P Henry (0-1); J O'Dwyer (0-3), R Convery (0-6f), A Grant (0-2). Subs: T McCloskey for P Henry, A Kelly for A Grant, S McNicholl for P McCloskey, D Foley (0-1) for S McGuigan.

Mayo - D O'Brien; B Hunt, A Connolly, E Collins; D Gallagher, D Kenny, C Finn; K McDermott (0-2), P O'Flynn; A Lyons, K Feeney (0-9, 7f, 1'65), F Boland; S Hoban, K Kiely, D McTigue. Subs: A Brennan for C Finn, G Nolan for K Kiely, S Boland for D McTigue, L Cribben for A Lyons.

Referee - T Carroll.

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