Meath 2-12 Donegal 1-14

Three points in the closing minutes of the second half from Jack Regan was enough to see Meath, under new manager Johnny Greville, open their National Hurling League Division 2 campaign with a narrow win at Lomans Park Trim.

The visitors made a great start and were 0-2 to 0-0 up inside the opening five minutes with fine efforts from Brian McIntyre and Gerard Gilmore. Cian Rogers brought Meath right back into it with the games first goal and a Jack Regan point gave the home side control. 

With 11 minutes gone Meath lost corner back Domhnall Rogers to a black card for a foul in the square and from the resulting penalty Donegal keeper Luke White found the net. Donegal held a 1-6 to 1-5 lead with five minutes to go in the half but scores from Kris Gorman and Cian Rogers sent the Royals to the dressing room 1-7 to 1-6 in front.

White tied the game up from a free in the early stages of the second half but soon after Meath’s second goal arrived from Jack Regan after great work from Daire Shine. With ten minutes remaining Donegal looked like they were going to push on leading 1-13 to 2-9 but it was Greville’s charges that found an extra gear. Three points from Regan, 2 frees and one from play, put Meath in the driving seat. Gilmore left it a one point game from a free but from the next play referee Ciaran O’Regan blew the full time whistle.

Meath scorers: Jack Regan 1-7, Cian Rogers 1-2, James Cooke, Simon Ennis and Kris Gorman 0-1 each

Donegal scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-6, Luke White 1-1, Brian McIntyre 0-3, Danny Cullen, Liam McKinney and Sean Ward 0-1 each

Referee Ciaran O’Regan Cork

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