There were wins for London, Roscommon, Meath and Antrim on the opening day of the 2016 Christy Ring Cup competition.

London gained revenge for last year's quarter-final defeat when coming away from Ballycran with a 2-17 to 2-12 victory over Down under their belt.

The Exiles led by 1-11 to 1-2 at the halfway stage and Fergus McMahon's charges were forced to withstand a second-half rally by the hosts before finishing with five points to spare.

Meanwhile, last year's Nicky Rackard Cup champions Roscommon inflicted a 2-20 to 0-15 defeat on 2015 runners-up Derry in Athleague.

The primrose and blues shaded the opening half by 0-11 to 0-8 before outscoring the visitors by 2-9 to 0-7 after the resumption.

Meath also got their campaign off to a winning start with a 3-18 to 2-12 over Wicklow in Trim.

Goals from Gavin McGowan (2) and Neil Heffernan laid the foundations for the Royals' success.

Padraig Doran raised the Garden County's green flag but they trailed by 1-3 to 2-8 at the change of ends.

Earlier in the day, Antrim registered a 3-20 to 0-17 win over Kildare.

London - E Kelly; C Hickey, L Guale, C McAlinden; G Mahon (0-3), B Regan, T Lawrence; N McDonnell, D Browne; M Murphy, B Walsh (0-1), M O'Dwyer; K O'Loughlin (1-7, 0-6f), K Reid (0-1), M Duggan (0-3). Subs: D Roberts (0-1) for D Browne, S O'Donnell (1-1) for M O'Dwyer, F Collins for K Reid, P Phelan for M Murphy, T Healy for B Walsh.

Down - S Keith; M McCullough, P Flynn, S Ennis; C Taggart (0-1), C Woods (0-2f), J McGrath (0-1); S Nicholson (0-1), C O'Prey; D Hughes (0-1), J McManus, C Egan (2-0); S Dineen (0-1), D Toner (0-3f), P Sheehan (0-2). Subs: F Conway for S Nicholson, A O'Prey for C Egan.

Referee - G McGrath.

**

Roscommon - N Fallon; I Delaney, P Kellehan, L Kilcline; A Moore (0-1), M Kelly (0-1), J Kilkenny; E Flanagan (0-1), C Dolan (0-1); T Seale (0-1), T Featherston (0-3), J Fallon (0-7, 4f, 1sl); C Egan (1-3, 1-2f), R O'Meara, A Murphy (0-1). Subs: J Lawlor (1-0) for A Murphy, N Connaughton (0-1) for R O'Meara, H Rooney for T Seale, W Boyle for E Flanagan.

Derry - C Quinn; S McCullagh, C McSorley, E McGuckian; P Cleary, O McCloskey, D O'Neill; T McCloskey (0-1), B Quigley (0-2); B Og McGilligan, M McGuigan (0-1), G O'Kane; S Farren (0-2), R Convery (0-7, 6f), A Grant (0-2). Subs: J McCullagh for B Quigley, D Foley for B Og McGilligan, S Quinn for E McGuckian, B Douban for G O'Kane.

Referee - J Keane.

**

Meath - S McGann; C Reilly, D Donoghue, S Whitty; S Brennan, D Healy, K Keoghan; S Heavey, S Morris (0-4); J Toher (0-3, 1f), K Keena, A Gannon (0-5, 2f); G McGowan (2-2), N Heffernan (1-3), S Quigley. Subs: M O'Grady (0-1) for J Keena, J Walsh for S Quigley, S Geraghty for S Brennan, L Martyn for A Gannon.

Wicklow - D O'Neill; L Maloney, B Cuddihy, C O Dulachain; P Keane, J Henderson (1-0), M O'Brien; R Keddy, E Kearns (0-1); P Doran (1-0), S Kelly, D Masterson (0-2, 1f, 1'65); C Moorehouse (0-2, 1f, 1'65), A Byrne, M Lee (0-3, 2f). Subs: D Staunton (0-3) for R Keddy, G Weir (0-1) for D Masterson, E Dunne for M O'Brien, E McCormack for C Moorehouse.

Referee - J O'Brien.

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