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Lilywhites win Division 3A thriller

May 03, 2009

Saturday, May 2.

Kildare were crowned NHL Division 3A champions following a thrilling final that went right to the wire at Breffni Park.

Tony Murphy’s second half goal proved decisive for the Lilywhites, who had to defend desperately in the face of a late surge from the Royals.

Allianz NHL Division 3A Final: Kildare 2-18 Meath 1-18
 
Kildare sprinted out of the blocks, with David Harney sweeping over four points in the opening five minutes.
 
Skipper Oisin Lynch and Adrian McAndrew were also on target as they quickly built up a 0-7 to 0-1 advantage.
 
But Meath gradually got to the pace of the game, and Stephen Clynch lifted Royal spirits with a superbly struck 75 metre free.
 
And when Joey Keena raced through to split the posts in the 20th minute, they had narrowed the gap to three.
 
Strangely, Kildare’s early dominance disappeared as a resurgent Meath tackled with ferocity and discipline, and the accuracy of Neil Hackett, who converted three frees and a ‘65, helped them build towards the interval.
 
They turned around just two points adrift - 0-11 to 0-9 - substitute Alan Ryan having succeeded in curbing the threat posed by Harney.
 
David Cafferty swept home a Kildare goal two minutes after the restart, but Meath responded immediately with a Peter Durnin goal, netted on the rebound after Nicky Horan’s shot was kept out by goalkeeper Paul Dermody.
 
Hackett and Harney traded scores throughout a fast-moving second half which saw the sides level on four occasions, before Tony Murphy put daylight between the sides with a second Kildare goal on 58 minutes.
 
Meath battled heroically, but Kildare defended superbly in the closing stages, and held out for a deserved victory.
 
Meath: S Quinn, S Corrigan, E Fitzgerald, M Foley, J Boyle (0-1), P Fagan, M Horan, E Keogh, J Keena (0-2), N Hackett (0-9, 8f, 1 ’65), S Clynch (0-2, 1f), G O’Neill (0-1), B Slevin, N Horan (0-2), P Durnin (1-1).
 
Subs: A Ryan for Fitzgerald (9) D Kirby for Horan (yellow card, 52), D Crimmins for O’Neill (63)
 
Kildare: P Dermody, N Doolan, P Reidy, K Chan, D Kennedy, R Hoban (0-3, 3f), J Doran, D Moloney, N O Muineachain, D Carter (0-1), T Murphy (1-1), D Harney (0-8, 3f), A McAndrew (0-3), D Cafferty (1-1), O Lynch (0-1).

Subs: L Harney for Chan (35), F O Muineachain for Lynch (56), M Moloney for D Moloney (64), K Divilly for Harney (70)
 
Referee: T Carroll (Offaly)
 
Attendance: 500 (approx)

Meanwhile, London claimed the Allianz NHL Division 3B crown with a brilliant 2-19 to 2-13 win over Roscommon on Saturday.

Martin Finn top-scored for the Exiles with 1-9, while Kevin McMullen chipped in with 1-4 to ensure the trophy is heading across the Irish Sea on Saturday night.

London led 2-7 to 1-9 at half-time, Finn having scored from the penalty spot for the winners.

They played with the wind at their backs in the second half and were far too strong, with Finn and McMullen fittingly adding late points to guarantee the win.

 

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