NHL FINALS: DIVISION THREEA: Kildare will play in the second tier of the NHL next year following their thrilling, but hard-earned, 2-18 to 1-18 victory over Meath at Kingspan/Breffni Park.
However the winners’ boss, Andy Comerford, warned a major improvement will be needed in the weeks ahead: “We won’t live with Westmeath in the championship if we repeat some of the wides we had late in the game,” the exKilkenny star insisted.
“It was a great game of hurling but I felt we showed enough grit and determination all through to suggest that we weren’t going to be turned over, even when they drew level in the second half.”
KILDARE: P Dermody; N Doolan, P Reidy, K Chan; D Kennedy, R Hoban (0-3, all frees), John Doran; D Moloney, N Ó Muineachain; D Carter (0-1), T Murphy (1-1), D Harney (0-8, three frees); A McAndrew (0-3), D Cafferty (1-1), O Lynch (0-1). Subs: L Harney for K Chan; F Ó Muineachain for O Lynch; M Maloney for D Moloney; K Divilly for D Harney.
MEATH: S Quinn; J Corrigan, E Fitzgerald, M Foley; J Boyle (0-1), P Fagan, M Horan; E Keogh, J Keena (0-2); N Hackett (0-9, eight frees, one 65), S Clynch (0-2), G O'Neill (0-1); B Slevin, N Horan (0-2), P Durnin (1-1). Subs: A Ryan for E Fitzgerald (inj); D Kirby for N Horan; D Crimmins for G O'Neill.
Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).
DIVISION THREE B: London and Roscommon served up an entertaining encounter at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday, with the London side winning 2-18 to 2-13.
Martin Finn played a big part in ensuring that an earlier success over the Connacht side in the group was repeated, with the full forward scoring 1-9.
DIVISION FOUR: Sligo secured the title at the expense of defending champions Monaghan, 1-13 to 2-8, at Kingspan/Breffni Park.
The sides were deadlocked at 1-9 to 2-6 at the end of normal time but all three second-half extra-time points went to Sligo.
