Hennelly finds his range

LONDON 1-16 MEATH 1-14 NHL DIVISION 2B FINAL

15 April 2013

A haul of 1-7 from Galway native Gerard Hennelly proved crucial in St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, as London held off a final-quarter fightback to seal the title.

The Royals moved into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 26th minute, which included a 0-4 salvo by centre-forward Stephen Clynch.

Corner-forward Hennelly missed a penalty, but made amends, finding the net to give his team a 1-4 to 0-6 advantage. London raced into a seven-point lead after the break before Meath sub Noel Kirby found the net on 65 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Exiles.

Man of the Match: G Hennelly (London).

Scorers – London: G Hennelly 1-7 (0-5fs), H Vaughan 0-3, J Maher 0-2, D Maher, J Egan, M Duggan, D Reale 0-1 each. Meath: S Clynch 0-8 (3fs, 1 ’65’), N Kirby 1-0, P Durnin 0-2, J Togher (f), J Kelly, P Conneely, T McGrath 0-1 each.

LONDON – D Russell 7; P Lane 7 B Costelloe 7, D Healy 7; D Maher 7, B Regan 7, J Walsh 7; PJ Rowe 7, H Vaughan 8; S Frawley 6, J Egan 7, T Dunne 6; G Hennelly 8, M Duggan 7, J Maher 7. Subs: D Reale 7 for Frawley (h-t), K Walsh 6 for Maher (47), L Hands 6 for Dunne (60), S Lambert 6 for Rowe (65).

MEATH – S McGann 7; C Reilly 7, D Healy 7, W Mahady 6; J Kelly 7, J Togher 7, S Heavey 7; S Donoghue 6, S Morris 6; E Marsh 5, S Clynch 8, P Conneely 7; A Gannon 6, M O’Sullivan 6, B Slevin 6. Subs: N Kirby for Gannon (25), P Durnin for Marsh (32), T McGrath for Slevin (h-t), B Hanley for Donoghue (45), Marsh for McGrath (68).

REF – G Duffy (Antrim).