Christy Ring Cup: Two late points from former Tipperary player Eoin Brislane earned Meath a dramatic 2-16 to 1-19 draw with Westmeath at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening.
Two goals by corner forward Ger O'Neill were other vital ingredients in the Royal recovery after they had trailed by 0-6 to 0-10 at the break. With Enda McLoughlin, Andrew Mitchell, Derek McNicholas and Barry Kennedy showing up well, Westmeath, who won the inaugural competition two years ago, were shaping like winners but the home side battled to the end.
Shane Brick inspired Kerry to a comfortable 1-18 to 0-11 win over Mayo at Austin Stack Park on Saturday afternoon. Kerry led 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval with Brick unerring from placed balls. Mayo were restricted to one point from play from gifted dual star Keith Higgins.
Kerry were 0-13 to 0-8 clear by the 50th minute and once John Mike Dooley crashed home a 56th-minute goal, the game was over as a contest.
Mayo lost Higgins with a serious hand injury five minutes from time which could be a bad news for football manager John O'Mahony.
Blood substitute Alan Brennan scored a 51st-minute goal to put last year's beaten finalists Carlow en route to a 3-13 to 0-15 victory over Kildare at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow.
Brennan's goal put Carlow into a 1-9 to 0-11 lead. Kildare led 0-9 to 0-6 at the break but after Brennan's goal things went Carlow's way and late goals from Des Murphy and Robert Foley sealed the victory.
Wing forward John Keogh ontributed six points to help Wicklow to an emphatic 1-22 to 1-10 victory over London at Arklow.
Johnny Moran's goal helped Wicklow lead 1-11 to 0-4 at the break while London's goal came late on from Anthony Kane.
Wicklow were reduced to 14 men in the final quarter when full forward Wayne O'Gorman was red-carded.
SCORERS
Meath 2-16: G O'Neill 2-1, M Cole 0-7 4 frees, 2 65s, E Brislane 0-3, 1 free, S Clynch 0-2, E Keogh 0-1, C. Keena 0-1, J Keena 0-1; Westmeath 1-19: D Cinchonas 1-2, A Mitchell 0-5, 3 frees, B Kennedy 0-5, E McLoughlin 0-3, R Whelan 0-3, B Smyth 0-1.
Kerry 1-18: S Brick 0-11 (0-8, frees, 0-2 65s), J M Dooley 1-1, J Egan 0-4, L Boyle and B O'Sullivan 0-1 each. Mayo 0-11: A Freeman 0-6 (0-6 frees), K Higgins 0-4 (0-3 frees), S Lenihan 0-1.
Carlow 3-13: B Lawler (0-7, 0-5 frees), D Murphy (1-2), R Foley (1-0), A. Brennan (1-0), D Roberts (0-2), J Waters (0-1), E. Coady (0-1). Kildare 0-15: M Moloney, K Divilly, T Murphy (0-2 each), B White (0-2, two frees), M Dowd (0-2, two frees), D Harney (0-1), D. Kennedy (0-1), C Buggy (0-1), Brendan Byrne (0-1), A McAndrew (0-1).
Wicklow 1-22: J Keogh (0-6, five frees), L Glynn (0-4), D Hyland (0-3), W O'Gorman (0-3), J Moran 1-0 A Tiernan (0-2), T Collins (0-2), G Bermingham and B Rickerby (0-1 each). London 1-10: A Kane (1-1), M Finn (0-6, three frees), F McMahon, D Skehan and P Fagan (0-1 each).
