NHL Div 2A round five:Nolan goals net gain for Carlow and pain for Meath 

Chris Nolan bagged a brace of goals as Carlow survived a spirited Meath showing at sunny Pairc Tailteann on Sunday to retain their league status at The Royals' expense

Carlow ........... 2-21
Meath ............ 1-21

Nolan's second-half brace proved central to the outcome. Martin Kavanagh accuracy from frees and 65s were also also had a major bearing on the final sxore.

Overall, while Meath had a greater spread of scorers, Carlow had a better facility for acquiring them. The sides were level seven times over the 70 minutes but the home side only led once, around the 24th minute.

Meath's performance was their best of the campaign and marked improvement of the 26-point hiding dished out by Carlow in last June's league clash at this venue.

Meath rallied well from Nolan's first. Having fallen five points behind twice in the third quarter they were roused by sub Jack Walsh's 52nd minute strike that left just a point between the teams, 1-16 to 1-17.

The Meath contingent were aggrieved when a foul on Walsh later on didn't result in a penalty. Nicky Weir's charges created further goal chances but were unable to find a way past Carlow 'keeper Brian Tracey.

Regan's 60th minute free leveled matters for the only time in the second-half, 1-19-each. Once again Carlow responded positively, this time with Nolan's second goal. Kavanagh followed it with a pointed free from his own 45 in the 65th minute.

Four clear, needing only a draw to survive, Carlow's safety looked secure. They might have got a third goal but for the brilliant intervention of Meath defender Shane Whitty as the clock ticked into five minutes of added time.

Carlow held firm to retain their league status while Meath face a spell in Division 2B.

Facing the diagonal breeze blowing from the town end, Carlow started well moving 0-3 to 0-1 clear after six minutes Three minutes later the sides were tied for the first time thanks to a Jack Regan free.

The sides were level five more times in the next 16 minutes. A brilliant Stephen Morris point had Meath in front briefly, 0-8 to 0-7, with 24 minutes gone.

Whenever Meath threatened to seize the upper hand, Carlow responded positively, outscoring Meath by 0-5 to 0-2 over the remainder of the half to lead by 0-12 to 0-10 at the break.

Shane Whitty's 33rd minute point, from his own 65, was another highlight for the home side who were seeking their second win of the campaign.

Ahead by 0-12 to 0-10 at half-time, Carlow had the backing of the elements from the resumption. The sides shared four points within as many minutes of the restart.

When Stephen Morris placed Mickey Burke for a point the margin was down to the minimum, 0-13 to 0-14. Then Nolan got in for the first of his goals and soon the visitors were five clear on two occasions.

Scorers: Carlow - Martin Kavanagh 0-15 (10 fs, 2 65s), Chris Nolan 2-0, Sean Murphy 0-2; Fiachra Fitzpatrick 0-1, Kevin McDonald 0-1, Niall Bolger 0-1, Diarmuid Byrne 0-1.

Meath - Jack Regan 0-9 (6 fs, 2 65s), Jack Walsh 1-0, Mikey Cole 0-3, James Kelly 0-2; Shane Whitty 0-1, David Reilly 0-1, Stephen Morris 0-1, Damien Healy 0-1, Mickey Burke 0-1,Damien Healy 0-1, Paddy Potterton 0-1

Carlow - Brian Treacy; Niall Bolger, Conor Lawlor, Michael Doyle; Jack McCullagh, Diarmuid Byrne, Jack Kavanagh; Conor Kehoe, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jon Nolan, Chris Nolan, Sean Murphy; Martin Kevanagh, John Michael Nolan, Kevin McDonald. Subs - Richard Coady for McDonald (58), Tony Lawlor for Bolger (62), Ted Joyce for J Nolan (65), Fiach O'Toole for Murphy (70 + 5).

Meath - Charlie Ennis; Shane Brennan, Brendan McKeon; James Kelly, Shane Whitty, Michael Burke; Nicky Potterton, Paddy Potterton; Mikey Cole, Jack Regan, David Reilly; Adam Gannon, Damien Healy, Stephen Morris. Subs - Jack Walsh for Burke (44), Padraic O'Hanrahan for P Potterton (56), Chris Reilly for Cole (64), Eamon O Donnchadha for Reilly (65), Callum O'Sullivan for N Potterton (70 + 2).

Referee - Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)

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