NHL Div 2A round 3: Westmeath leave Meath marooned
February 27, 2022
Killian Doyle fires home Westmeath's third goal despite the efforts of Meath's Stephen Morris during the NHL Division 2A clash at Trim
Westmeath scored an emphatic NHL Division 2A win over Meath at Trim hitting 27 scores in the course of this round three success.
Westmeath ....... 4-23
Meath .............. 1-15
Bouncing back from their round two defeat at Carlow, Joe Fortune's men seize control from the off with Niall Mitchell netting within 17 seconds of the off.
The accuracy of the Doyle twins, Killian and Ciaran, allowed the Lake County side build on that brilliant start.
Meath responded well to that early setback, as they sought to amend for a home loss to Down in the previous round.
Meath's Jack Regan emerged as the game's top scorer - with 1-9 - and his pointed free from inside his own 65 left the Royals just a goal in arrears in the 15th minute.
Almost immediately, Mitchell's second goal doubled Westmeath's advantage. They pushed on from there with Killian Doyle's goal the highlight and they motored to a 3-13 to 0-8 interval advantage.
The contest long since expired, it dipped further in the second-half which was an opportunity for Westmeath to enhance their score difference while Meath tried to keep the scoreline down.
The third quarter yielded just five scores until a foul on Damien Healy brought a penatly to Meath. Regan netted it with aplomb to leave his side trailing by 10 points, 1-11 to 3-15.
It was a temporary blip for Westmeath who made a raft of changes in the latter stages while managing to extend their lead.
Referee Chris Mooney was diligent in applying a recent directive from Croke Park on foul handpasses.
Nine added minutes seemed excessive though there were some stoppages. In the seventh minute of added time, Westmeath lost corner-back Darragh Egerton to a second yellow card.
Regan's long-range free-taking was a highlight of this phase of the game. The last score of the game fell to Westmeath sub whose goal left 17 points between the sides at the finish
Next up for Meath is a trip to Tralee on Sunday next, March 6. On the same day Westmeath host Down.
Scorers: Westmeath - Jack Gillen 0-9 (7fs); Killian Doyle 1-5 (0-4 fs); Niall Mitchell 2-1; Ciaran Doyle 0-4; Eoin Keyes 1-0; Aonghus Clarke 0-2; Joey Boyle, Eoin Ahearne 0-1 each.
Meath - Jack Regan 1-9 (1-0 pen, 8fs); Adam Gannon 0-2 James Kelly, Shane Whitty, Mark O'Sullivan, Nicky Potterton 0-1 each.
Westmeath - Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Tommy Gallagher; Aaron Craig, Tommy Doyle, Aonghus Clarke; Jack Galvin, Cormac Boyle; Kevin Regan, Joey Boyle, Niall Mitchell; Ciaran Doyle, Jack Gillen, Killian Doyle. Subs - Eoin Ahearne for Regan (44), Derek McNicholas for Gillen (53), Shane McGovern for C Boyle (59), Robbie Greville for Mitchell (62), Charlie McCormack for Doyle (68), Eoin Keyes for C Doyle (70).
Meath - Charlie Ennis; Michael Burke, Sean Geraghty, Shane Brennan, James Kelly, Shane Whitty, David Reilly, Adam Gannon, Patrick Potterton; Mark O’Sullivan, Damien Healy, Jack Regan; Nicholas Potterton, Eámon O Donnchadha, Stephen Morris. Subs - Mikey Cole for Reilly (ht), Callum O'Sullivan for M O'Sullivan (37), Jack Walsh for O Donnchadha (44), Trevor Healy for N Potterton (53), Ger Murphy for Kelly (55).
Referee - Chris Mooney (Dublin)
