Kerry 3-17 Meath 0-12

Kerry justified their favourites tag for outright honours with this commanding victory over Meath in the opening round of the Christy Ring Cup played at Lomans Park Trim. These two met on March 21st in round 7 of the NHL at the same venue with Kerry winning 2-18 to 0-18 and gaining promotion to Division 1B for 2027.

Played in windy conditions the game started in sunshine but at the start of the second half referee Brian Keon took the players off the pitch to avoid a very heavy shower of hailstones.

Kerry played with the elements in the first half and from the word go took control of proceedings. The visitors led at the break 1-14 to 0-6. While Tom Shine accounted for all of the Royals scores had Kerry seven players on the scoresheet. Ronan Walsh raised six white flags. Liam Og O’Connor, Tom Doyle, Jordan Brick, Evan Murphy, and Michael Leane sent over points before midfielder Kevin Goulding raised the games first green flag. 

Keeper Gavin King put Meath on the scoreboard first before the players made it to the dugouts to shelter from the hailstones. When the action resumed King received a black card and Kerry were awarded a penalty. Sub keeper Philip O’Brien took his place in the Meath goal and produced a brilliant save from Ronan Walsh’s penalty. The St. Pats clubman can be happy with his ten minutes having been called into action on three more occasions before been replaced by King.

Daire Shine and Joey Cole reduced the gap further before a brace from Walsh and a Brick goal effectively sealed the tie.

Substitute Michael Slattery got in for goal number 3 before the full time whistle to complete a comfortable victory for the Munster men.

Next up for the winners are Roscommon in Hyde Park Saturday April 25th. Meath make the trip to Aughrim to take on Wicklow (Sunday April 26th)

Kerry: C Bohane; E Leen, S McGrath, K O’Connor; J O’Connor 0-1, J Diggins, M Leane 0-1, K Goulding 1-0, E Murphy 0-1; J Brick 1-3, R Walsh 0-8, T Doyle 0-2; L Óg O’Connor 0-1, P Boyle, H Lenihan Subs: M Slattery 1-0, G Dooley, A Segal, D Slattery, L Rochford

Meath: G King 0-1; J Ennis, S Geraghty, L O’Connor; E Donegan, D Shine 0-1, N Conroy: S Ennis, J Cole 0-1; L Byrne, P O’Hanrahan, T Shine 0-7; M Cole 0-2, D O’Higgins, M O’Leary. Subs: S Coloe, P O’Brien, A Healy, K Ennis, S Doyle

Referee: B Keon (Galway)

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