Hurling round-up: Opening wins for Kildare and Rossies

Kildare, Christy Ring Cup champions in 2022, started their 2024 campaign with a comfortable 2-19 to 2-08 win over Sligo at Markievicz Park.

The hosts, who played two divisions below Kildare in the league, had the perfect start as Gerard O'Kelly Lynch found the net in the opening minutes, but a brace of goals from Cathal Dowling had the Lilywhites 2-03 to 1-00 ahead after just six minutes.

O'Kelly Lynch joined Dowling in raising a second green flag as his free found the net, but Kildare still led 2-13 to 2-04 at the turn.

The scoring slowed down in the second half - just 10 points shared between the pair - as Jack Sheridan and James Burke bother landed three points for Kildare while O'Kelly Lynch scored three more frees with Tomas Cawley grabbing the other score for the hosts.

Brendan Mulry and Paddy Fallon scored heavily as Roscommon's Nicky Rackard Cup campaign began with a 1-20 to 1-14 win over Louth at Dr Hyde Park.

Fallon and Mulry scored early points for the Rossies but Conor Murphy’s goal gave the Wee County an early lead.

Roscommon hit six points in a row though before a Darren Geoghegan free brought Louth’s second score.

Fallon continued to knock over the frees and that helped them into a 0-15 to 1-03 half-time lead.

Despite now operating against a strong breeze, Fallon opened the second-half scoring with another free before four Louth points in a row brought the visitors right back into it, trimming the gap to five points.

Roscommon weathered the storm though and pair of Mulry scores gave them breathing room and the same player hit a late goal to seal the win.

Longford were far too strong for Lancashire at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park as they had 18 points to spare in this Lory Meagher clash.

The sides had drawn in their