Offaly received a huge scare from Meath in their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A opener before prevailing by 0-26 to 1-21 in Birr.

Michael Fennelly's charges had five goals to spare over their midland rivals at the same venue in the Kehoe Cup a few weeks ago, and with Liam Langton, Sean Cleary and Shane Kinsella in fine scoring form, looked to be heading for another comfortable win when leading by 0-18 to 0-10 at the interval.

But inspired by a goal from the excellent Pauric O'Hanrahan, Meath reduced the deficit to a point in the closing stages before Eoghan Cahill's injury-time free brought relief for the Faithful County, who will need to improve ahead a tricky away assignment against Kerry next weekend.

In the day's other Division 2A clash in Arklow, Neil McManus was once again to the fore as Antrim eased to a 0-20 to 0-11 victory over Wicklow.

In Division 2B, David Herity's Kildare were 2-26 to 0-20 winners over London in Newbridge, while Richie Mullan's first half goal proved decisive in Derry's 1-19 to 0-19 victory over Down at Celtic Park.

Offaly - J Dempsey; M Cleary, D Egan, P Rigney; D King, B Conneely, D Doughan; D Nally (0-2), L Fox (0-1f); B Murphy, S Kinsella (0-3), T Geraghty (0-3); L Langton (0-12, 7f, 1'65), S Cleary (0-2), O Kelly (0-1). Subs: E Cahill (0-2f) for B Murphy, C Langton for S Cleary, C Kiely for S Kinsella, A Treacy for D Nally, B Duignan for L Fox.

Meath - C Ennis; S Geraghty (0-1), S Brennan, S Morris; K Keoghan, J Toher (0-1f), M Burke; A Douglas (0-3), P Potterton; M Mullen, J Regan (0-3f), J Walsh; E O'Donnchadh (0-1), D Healy, P O'Hanrahan (1-11, 0-9f, 0-1'65). Subs: D Kelly (0-1) for M Mullen, N Smullen for J Walsh, P Slevin for P Potterton, C O'Sullivan for N Smullen.

Referee - M Murtagh.

**

Antrim - R Elliott; P Duffin, Ciaran Johnston, S Rooney; G Walsh (0-2), P Burke, M Donnelly; N McManus (0-11, 9f), N McKeague; J McNaughton (0-2), N McKenna (0-1), R McCambridge; E O'Neill (0-1), D Nugent, D McCloskey (0-1). Subs: E Campbell for N McKeague, Conor Johnston (0-1) for R McCambridge, A O'Brien for M Donnelly, M Bradley (0-1) for E O'Neill, R Molloy for N McKenna.

Wicklow - C McNally; W Kavanagh, B Kearney, M O'Brien; G Byrne, B Cuddihy, P Keane; J Henderson, E Kearns (0-2); J Doyle (0-2), E McCormack, D Staunton (0-1); G Weir, A O'Brien (0-2, 1f, 1'65), P Doyle (0-1). Subs: E Donohue (0-3f) for G Weir, G Hughes for E McCormack, J Cranley for A O'Brien, C Moorehouse for J Doyle.

Referee - C Mooney.

**

Kildare - P McKenna; S Leacy, R Boran, C Forde; N O Muineachain, R Kelly (0-1), A Kelly; P Divilly (0-1), M Delaney (0-3, 2f); Cathal Dowling (0-1), B Byrne (1-13, 0-12f), J Burke (0-1); T Forde (0-1), J Sheridan (1-4, 0-1f), S Ryan. Subs: S Christansen (0-1) for A Kelly, C Kielty for T Forde, Conor Dowling for Cathal Dowling, C Melville for M Delaney.

London - P Buckley; C McSweeney, K Reid, P Muldoon; B Hickey (0-1), D McMullan, L Coughlan; N Eames, L Slyman; J Goulding (0-1), D Corrigan (0-1), K Morrissey (0-2); A Sheehan (0-12, 9f), S Lohan (0-1), S Lordan. Subs: J McCarthy for B Hickey, S Lawless for S Lordan, O Royston (0-1) for N Eames, C Nelson (0-1) for D Corrigan, G Hennelly for S Lohan.

Referee - S Hynes.

**

Derry - S Kelly; P Kelly, S Cassidy, D Cartin; B Og McGilligan, E McGill, C Kelly (0-1); E Cassidy (0-1), P Cleary (0-1); T Brady (0-1), C O'Doherty (0-13, 12f), T McHugh; O McKeever (0-2), A Grant, R Mullan (1-0). Subs: J McGuigan for A Grant, S McCloskey for P Cleary, B Glass for O McKeever, E Mulholland for R Mullan.

Down - S Keith; D Mallon, C Taggart, P Og McCrickard (0-1); J McManus (0-1), C Woods (0-1), PJ Davidson; M Conlon, P Savage; L Savage, D Toner, O McManus (0-13, 12f); G Hughes, E Sands, T Prenter. Subs: T Murray (0-1) for P Savage, R McCusker (0-2) for PJ Davidson, C Egan for P McCrickard, R Costello for T Prenter.

Referee - C McDonald.

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