2025 Allianz Hurling League Division 2 – Kerry 1-20 Meath 0-20

Kerry defeated Meath by 1-20 to 0-20 in Round 5 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 on Saturday March 1st at Austin Stack Park Tralee.

Boyle's return helps Kerry back to winning ways against battling Royals https://t.co/2gEW1dIosy

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) March 1, 2025

Boyle’s return helps Kerry back to winning ways against battling Royals

Report by Murt Murphy courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper

Allianz NHL Div 2A: Kerry 1-20 Meath 0-20

The return of Podge Boyle and the influence of substitutes Luke Crowley and Seanie Brosnan were the main reasons for Kerry’s return to winning ways in this hard-fought Allianz Hurling League Division 2A battle played at the Austin Stack Park.

While it was not vintage fare, it did help Kerry banish the blues of that surprise away loss to Donegal last weekend though there was definitely a hangover of sorts as Kerry were slow to get going.

In fact, Meath raced 0-5 to 0-2 in front inside the opening 15 minutes thanks to a brace of points from Jack Regan and Mikey Cole, while Sean Quigley fired another over from distance.

Kerry had begun with a Podge Boyle free in what was Boyle’s first start since the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2023. In the absence of injured talisman Shane Conway, Boyle’s return was a major boost to the Kingdom.

But the star up front was Leaving Cert student Luke Rochford who fired over a point from play. The fleet-footed Ballyduff corner forward was involved in everything good that happened up top for Kerry.

Boyle reduced the deficit to two with another free and then when Oisin Maunsell put Boyle drew his effort for a goal shaved the upright. But Meath were troubling the Kerry defence with Cole and Evan Fitzgerald adding points. The visitors were 0-7 to 0-3 in front by the 17th minute.

However a switch that saw Kyle O’Connor move to shadow Cole worked wonders for the Kingdom as they fired over five unanswered points from Podge Boyle (2), Oisin Maunsell, Luke Rochford and Ronan Walsh to lead 0-8 to 0-7 but Jack Regan leveled from another free in the 25th minute.

Kerry spurned another goal chance as the wide tally mounted but the decisive score of the half came in the 27th minute. It was a gift from the visitors.

Tom Doyle’s attempt for a point dropped short and Meath keeper and fullback collided allowing Podge Boyle to stroke the sliotar into an empty net. But Meath fought back with two Regan frees and another from Quigley as the sides retired on level terms, 1-9 to 0-12 with Kerry’s wide count at eight.

Boyle, with a brace of frees, and a superb Tom Doyle effort from play pushed Kerry three clear but Meath thanks to Cole, Daire Shine and Regan kept in touch. Kerry squandered three goal chances when Shane Nolan soccer style struck the post, Boyle crashed an effort of the crossbar and Rory Mahony just failed to reach a Nolan pass.

It was nip and tuck to the end until the introduction of Luke Crowley (son of Kerry football star Johnny) and Seanie Brosnan and Crowley fired over two crucial points that pushed Kerry four clear. Jack Regan kept Meath within touching distance and it was relief for Kerry when Padraig Dunne called a halt to proceedings letting Kerry boss John Tweek Griffin relax with relegation is now off the agenda.

Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle (1-10, 6fs, 1’65), L Rochford, O Maunsell, R Walsh and L Crowley (0-2 each), T Doyle and S Brosnan (0-1 each)

Scorers for Meath: J Regan (0-11, 10fs), M Cole (0-4), S Quigley (0-2), E Fitzgerald, N Potterton and D Shine (0-1 each) Teams:

KERRY: L Dee; K O’Connor, F McCarthy, S Foran; S McGrath, K Goulding, D Shanahan; D Griffin, R Mahony; T Doyle, O Maunsell, R Walsh; L Rochford, P Boyle, S Nolan.
Subs: P O’Connor for R Mahony (45), S Brosnan for S Nolan (51), L Crowley for R Walsh (52), D Moriarty for K O’Connor (68), R Donovan for D Griffin (73).

MEATH: C O’Riordan; J Ennis; B Holden, D Rogers; K Gorman, D Shine, S Ennis; S Quigley, J Cole; E Fitzgerald, J Regan, L Byrne; M Boyle, C Rogers, N Potterton.
Subs: D Kelly for B Holden (h/t), J Toher for S Quigley (48), D O’Higgins for C Rogers (54), M Healy for J Cole (57), S Corbett for E Fitzgerald (61)

Referee: P Dunne (Laois)