Round-up: Weekend's Allianz HL D2 action

Allianz Hurling League Division Two

Sunday

Westmeath 3-22 London 0-20

Meath 1-20 Derry 1-18

Saturday

Laois 1-18 Kerry 1-17

It was a good weekend for all three Leinster counties in Division Two of the Allianz Hurling League as they each secured crucial victories.

There was only one game in Division Two of the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday afternoon, but it provided three or four games’ worth of drama at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, where Cormac Byrne struck the decisive winner in the battle between two of the three sides that went into the weekend unbeaten.

The match programme at Laois Hire O’Moore Park recalled last year’s Joe McDonagh Cup fixture between Laois and Kerry where James Duggan’s incredible five-goal haul powered Laois to a comprehensive win over the Kingdom, but that was never on the cards as the visiting Munster men offered yet more evidence of their progress under John Griffin.

The inclement conditions ruled out another high scoring game, but this fixture was engaging as Kerry brought no end of intensity, the tone set by some excellent turnovers and plays from team captain James O’Connor in the half-back line and Eric Leen behind him.

Scores didn’t come easy and most of the flags were raised by dead balls from Ronan Walsh and Aaron Dunphy, however the first half was punctuated by some superb scores from play from David Dooley, Jordan Conway, Ryan Mullaney and Kevin Goulding.

The wind wasn’t overly strong, but still Kerry’s 0-9 to 0-8 half-time lead felt inadequate. For 20 minutes the sides went point for point but the bit of extra space was allowing Jack Kelly to thrive and he hit two of his four second half scores in quick succession to extend the lead to three points.

Kerry rallied and got back to within one but a turnover and attack set up Colin Byrne, who was tripped by Kyle O’Connor, leading to a black card and a penalty. Pádraig Delaney hammered the sliotar to the net meaning Kerry needed a goal of their own, and they went after it by dropping a 65 into the goalmouth in the third minute of stoppage time.

Oisín Maunsell scooped up the break and whipped the ball to the net, but there was still enough time for Laois to mount one last attack, resulting in Cormac Byrne batting the ball over the bar to put Laois well in control of their promotion destiny.

Any Westmeath supporters who travelled over to Ruislip were spared the same anxiety as their side wasted no time in asserting themselves against London.

Eamon Cunneen goaled inside the first minute, Shane Williams had three points from play inside the first 10, and by the midway point of the first half Westmeath were ten points to the good.

By half-time Dean Ennis added another green flag and Westmeath led by 2-14 to 0-7. Four of London’s points had come from frees converted by Fionn Ó Riain Broin, yet each of Westmeath’s 16 flags were struck from open play.

Ennis struck his second goal at the start of the second half and from there the intensity of the contest dipped, with Westmeath content to operate in third gear and still pick up their second win of the campaign.

Meath are still in the mix after they produced a strong finish in Trim, outscoring Derry by 0-7 to 0-1 in the last ten minutes.

Derry were still mathematically in the promotion hunt, but their eyes will now firmly be fixed on staying ahead of London and Mayo after they failed to build on an eight-point half-time lead.

Seán Kelly’s penalty turbo-charged the Oak Leaf county and while the wind did favour the home side at half-time, it wasn’t as decisive as in some of the other games around the country today. Lorcan Byrne goaled for Meath to cut the gap to two but Derry responded strongly with the next two points.

They couldn’t quite hold on however and after Meath drew level, a red card for Derry’s Eamon Cassidy made it that bit easier for the Royals to see out their win.