Allianz National Hurling League Division 2B: Armagh 0-26 Meath 1-10
ARMAGH kept their Division 2B title hopes alive with a convincing victory over Meath in Armagh’s Athletic Grounds on Sunday.
Ryan Gaffney made sure March 13 was unlucky for the Royals by top-scoring with 13 converted frees and know that victory against Mayo this weekend should give them a shot at the title. Meath started the game with their tails up but struck three wides in a row before Steven Clynch opened the account with nine minutes gone. Armagh responded a minute later with Conor Carvill and captain Cahal Carvill both finding the target but Clynch levelled the scores once more with 11 minutes played.
The Orchard men got to grips in midfield and got a bit of joy by supply early long passes into Declan Coulter. However, it was midfielder Stephen Renaghan who picked off a point and Armagh assumed control with six unanswered points coming from Coulter, Ryan Gaffney, Cathal Carvill and Conor Devlin before Meath called a halt with Ronan Sherlock’s great point from 60-metres.
And the Royals would have bagged a goal but for Artie McGuinness’ timely hook, but despite Conor Corvan’s point, Meath were finding inroads and Sherlock, Adam Gannon and Joe Kenna all scored to cut Armagh’s lead to three points. But the Orchard hurlers finished strongly the half strongly with David Carvill, Cahal Carvill and Ryan Gaffney giving Armagh a healthy 0-13 to 0-06 lead at the break.
Joe Kenna grabbed the only goal of the game on the hour mark but the Orchard hurlers remained in command with Cahal Carvill hitting six points from play and Gaffney proving deadly accurate from frees.
James Toher, Kenna and substitute Neil Heffernan completed the scoring for the Royals but Armagh never looked like losing and will fancy their chances of surprising Mayo next weekend.
MATCH STATS
Armagh: S Doherty, C Clifford, A McGuinness, C Devlin (0-2), S Gaffney, N Curry, K McKernan, E McGuinness, C Toner, S Renaghan (0-1), C Carvill (0-6), R Gaffney (0-13 frees), D Carvill (0-1), C Corvan (0-2), J Corvan, D Coulter (0-1); Subs: S Keenan for C Devlin (52), O Curry for Coulter (70), D McKenna for J Corvan (70+2); Yellow cards: C Corvan (49), C Devlin (51), N Curray (59).
Meath: S McGann, C Reilly, S Brennan, D Donoghue, D Healy, R Sherlock (0-2), S Heavey, K Keoghan, S Gerarty, S Clynch, S Morris, A Gannon, T Clarke, J Toher (0-1 free), J Kenna (1-3, 1-1 frees); Subs: K Keena for Clarke (28), S Quigley for Geraghty (48), N Heffernan (0-1) for Clynch (49), B Slevin for Morris (60); Yellow cards: Sherlock (35+3), C Reilly (49).
Referee: C Cunning (Antrim).
