Offaly ....... 3-25
Meath ....... 3-9

In outscoring hosts Meath by 13 points in the second-quarter of this NHL opener Offaly eased to victory at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Photos from this game.

Offaly might have won by a wider margin but for 11 first-half wides. Both sides were troubled by a squally crosswind.

Michael Fennelly's men managed 1-11 after the first water break while all Meath could muster was a Padraic O'Hanrahan free in stoppage time.

Eoghan Carroll top scored with 0-12 for Offally including two pointed sides into the old swimming pool end in the second-half.

Liam Langton finished with five points from play while the Failthful County finished with 11 scores. A score-taking exercise was all the second-half was.

Goals from Oisin Kelly and Adrian Hynes were central to Offaly's 2-13 to 0-7 interval advantage.

Despite the imposition of the elements Offaly outscored Meath 1-12 to 3-2 in the second-half.

Matters improved somewhat for Meath in the second-half. Well-taken goals from sub James Kelly, Mark O'Sullivan before a stoppage time effort from another replacement

Just two points separated the sides in last year's corresponding fixture at Birr. That was mirrored in the opening quarter here when the scores were tied four times here.

The water break was reached with leading by 0-6 to 1-2. By the 25th minute Offaly were 2-6 0-6 clear and over the remainder of the half maintained momentum to secure an emphatic victory. 

Next Up: Sat May 15: Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 3.0. Sun May 16: Offaly v Kerry, 3.0.

Scorers: Offaly - Eoghan Cahill 0-12 (8fs), 2sls; Liam Langton 0-5; Oisin Kelly, Adrian Hynes, Shane Kinsella 1-0 each; Brian Duignan, Ben Conneely 0-2 each; Brian Watkins, Leon Fox (f), Ross Ravenhill, Shane Dooley (f) 0-1 each.

Meath - Padraic Hanrahan 0-4 (3fs); Mark O'Sullivan, Jack McGowan, James Kelly 1-0 each; Jack McGowan, Adam Gannon, Gavin McGowan, Alan Douglas, Jack Regan 0-1 each.

Offaly - Conor Clancy; Joey Keenaghan, Ciaran Burke, Paddy Delaney; Brian Watkins, Ben Conneely, Killian Sampson; Leon Fox, Ross Ravenhill; Shane Kinsella, Eoghan Cahill, Liam Langton; Oisin Kelly, Adrian Hynes, Brian Duignan. Subs - Damien Egan for Keehaghan (6), Paddy Rigney for Delaney (27), Jason Sampton for Duignan (59), Colin Gath for Fox (64), Evan Kelly for  Sampson (64), Shane Dooley for Cahill (66), David Nally for Hynes (66),

Meath - Charlie Ennis; Ben McGowan, Shane Whitty, Sean Geraghty; Keith Keoghan, Darragh Kelly, James Toher; Paddy Conneely, Pauric O’Hanrahan; Daithi McGowan, Damien Healy, Alan Douglas; Gavin McGowan, Mark O’Sullivan, Adam Gannon. Subs - Jack Regan for D Healy (30), James Kelly for D McGowan (ht), Stephen Morris for O'Hanrahan (ht), Michael Burke for B McGowan (44), Jack Walsh for Geraghty (59), Shane Brennan for D Kelly (59).

Referee - David Hughes (Kilkenny)

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