Donegal hurlers slip to Meath in Navan

Donegal suffered their first Division 2 2B NHL loss away to Meath on Sunday at Pairc Tailteann where the hosts finished, in the end, with ten points to spare. 

Meath 1-23: 0-16 Donegal

Meath went in at the break 0-14 to 0-8 ahead at half-time. But Mickey MacCann’s side, who had also gone into the clash in Navan undefeated, battled hard and  were right back in contention and just three adrift, as the game entered the final 15 minutes. 

However, Meath would finish with a real flurry, posting 1-5 to Donegal’s single over to run out deserving and comfortable winners in the end. 

Meath scorers: Pádraic O'Hanrahan 0-11,10fs; Eamon O Donnchadha 0-5; Jamie Leavy 1-0; Nicky Potterton 0-2; James Toher 0-1; James Kelly 0-1; Paddy Barnwell 0-1; Pa Ryan 0-1; Simon Ennis 0-1. 

Donegal scorers: Declan Coulter 0-8, 5fs,1’65; Liam McKinney 0-2; Gavin Browne 0-1; Ronan McDermott 0-1; Ruairi Campbell 0-1; Ritchie Ryan 0-1; Daire O Maoileidigh 0-1; Gerry Gilmore 0-1.

Meath: Charlie Ennis; Stephen Morris, Mickey Burke, Brendan McKeon; Damien Healy, James Toher, James Kelly; Pa Ryan, Martin Healy; Sean Quigley, Simon Ennis, Niall McLarnon; Nicky Potterton, Eamon Og O Donnchadha, Padraig O'Hanrahan. 

Subs: Regan for Burke (ht), Paddy Barnwell for Quigley (44), Mikey Cole for McLarnon (58), Joey Cole for Potterton (67), Jamie Leavy for Kelly (68).

Donegal: Luke White; Stephen McBride, Michael Donaghue, Padraig Doherty; Gavin Browne, Jack O'Loughlin, Brian McIntyre; Conor Gartland, Declan Coulter; Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott, Gerry Gilmore; Ruairi Campbell, Ritchie Ryan, Daire O Maoileidigh. 

Subs: Bernard Lafferty for Ryan (53), Ryan Hifferty for Coulter (65).

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary).