The 2016 Leinster MHC got underway today and Wexford, Offaly, Meath and Carlow all enjoyed winning starts.

12 months ago Westmeath scored a shock victory over Wexford but history failed to repeat itself as the team from the south east comfortably saw off the Lake County's challenge on a scoreline of 5-15 to 1-12 in Mullingar.

The game was effectively over as a contest at the halfway stage with the Model County holding a commanding 2-8 to 0-4 lead while Marcus Kennedy netted a late consolation goal for the team in maroon and white.

In O'Connor Park, Offaly produced a strong second-half showing to deny Laois on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-12.

Mark Dowling raised a green flag for the O'Moore County in the first-half and they led by 1-8 to 0-5 at the interval but Danny Owens' charges came good after the resumption to book their place in the last eight of the competition.

David Nally's goal proved vital for the Faithful County.

Meanwhile, in Tier 3, Meath coasted to a comfortable 10-22 to 0-7 victory over Wicklow in Arklow while Carlow got the better of Kildare by 0-14 to 0-12 in Netwatch Cullen Park.

The next round of games will see Carlow take on Laois and Meath face Westmeath on April 23rd. Venues and times to be confirmed.

Wexford - J Henebry; C Murphy, D Byrne, E Molloy; M Codd, C Firman, G Molloy; D Reck, B O'Connor; Q Sanders (0-3), C Hearne (1-4), C Flood (0-2); A Walsh (1-0), T Doyle (1-0), R O'Connor (1-6, 0-3f, 1'65). Subs: D Lynch (1-0) for A Walsh, M O'Neill for T Doyle, L Pender for D Reck, J Cullen for Q Sanders.

Westmeath - B McHugh; C Flynn, K Regan, N McKenna; A Ennis, J Bermingham, J Kenny; J O'Brien, E Fox (0-2, 1f); S O'Brien (0-3), J Murphy, D O'Reilly; S Broughan, M Kennedy (1-1, 1-0pen, 0-1f), S Dowd (0-3, 2f, 1'65). Subs: C McCrossan (0-1f) for S Broughan, D Reilly for C Flynn, L Broderick for J Kenny, C O'Brien (0-2f) for S Dowd, E Gorman for D O'Reilly.

Referee - A Keating.

**

Offaly - W Malone; C Curran, D Watkins, F Hanamy; S Leonard, B Kealey, M Ryan (0-1); A Maher, D Buckley (0-1); C Langton (0-3), E Callaghan, K Guinan; E Kelly (0-1), E Woods (0-9, 8f), J Keenaghan. Subs: P Walsh for C Curran, D Nally (1-0) for D Buckley, M Cleary for A Maher.

Laois - O Bennett; J Geaney, E Killeen, B Quinlan; D Connolly, J Cranny, L Cleere; L McDonald (0-1), L Delaney; S Dunphy (0-1), A Dunphy (0-4), C Comerford; M Dowling (1-0), J Walsh, A Bergin (0-6, 3f, 2'65). Subs: J Keyes for A Bergin, B Corby for L Delaney.

Referee - A Devine.

**

Meath - C Ennis; B Reilly, J McNally, B Kelly; W Flynn (0-1), S Martin (0-1f), J Ryan; C McNally (0-1), S Coffey (0-1); J Cummins (1-3, 0-2f), P Farrell (4-7, 0-2f), D Murtagh (0-1); M Cullen (2-1), R Byrne (2-4), B Dowling (1-1). Subs: J Connolly for J Ryan, B McGowan for S Martin, C Hayes for M Cullen, J Leavy (0-1) for B Dowling, E Fitzgerald for W Flynn.

Wicklow - C Staunton; C Murphy, B Kearney, A Cummins; R Brown, C Deering, MJ Moran; I Clancy (0-1), K O'Halloran; A Byrne (0-1), P O'Toole (0-3), G Hughes; G O'Connor, C Byrne, J O'Neill. Subs: L Evans for C Murphy, C Connolly (0-1) for G O'Connor, S Coogan (0-1) for C Byrne, K Hannon for R Bown.

Referee - S Cleere.

**

Carlow - D Jordan; P Slye, D Tobin, R McEvoy; J Holden, G Lawlor, T Lawlor (0-1); G Connolly, A Nolan; C Nolan (0-6, 4f), T Dowling, C Treacy (0-3); J Nolan (0-1), N Lynam, C Lennon (0-2). Subs: J O'Neill for C Lennon, A Whelan for G Connolly, D Nolan for A Nolan, N Roche (0-1) for J Holden.

Kildare - J Keane; B Giffney, R Boran, B Blackburne; S Leacy, C Dowling, J Dolan; C Smith (0-1f), K Gorman; J Burke (0-6, 5f), A Kelly, M Moloney; C O'Regan (0-1), C Kielty (0-1), S Ryan (0-3). Subs: P Tierney for J Keane, P Mortell for R Boran, M Moran for M Moloney, K Aherne for C O'Regan, A Doran for C Dowling.

Referee - M O'Sullivan.

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