Meath topped Group 2 in the Tailteann Cup with a hard-fought victory over Down in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
There was little between the teams throughout and while both had already qualified for the next stage of the competition, the win means Meath earned straight entry to the quarter-finals with home advantage and a week's break, while Down are into the preliminary quarter-finals played next weekend.
The difference in tactics was evident from the start, with Down playing a passing game resulting in two turnovers in the first two minutes while Meath were more direct resulting in the opening score fired over the bar by Jack O’Connor in the third.
Still there was just a point between the sides at the half-time whistle, with a converted penalty contributing to Meath’s narrow lead while Down scored five of their six points from dead balls.
Niall Kane was back in nets for Down but there was nothing he could do to prevent Jordan Morris firing low into the net from the penalty spot in the tenth minute when the same player was pulled back, having got the ball away to Ronan Jones, who hit the target after the whistle had blown.
Down had led 0-03 to 0-01 at that stage, with all three scores from frees but the Royal County kept their noses in front and led by three points when Down almost had a goal of their own on 25 minutes.
Liam Kerr was pulled back in the square, but he managed to get the ball away to Eugene Branagan who finished to the net. The whistle had blown for a free however and Pat Havern converted.
Kane hit a superb ’45 to level the game at the end of the half but Matthew Costello replied with a free accompanied by a fist-pump to make it 1-04 to 0-06 at the short whistle.
Daniel Guinness levelled after the break but despite there being barely a flutter of a breeze in Parnell Park Down had 17 wides in total to Meath’s 10.
On 43 minutes Down went two points in front as the ball passed through Eugene Branagan to Guinness who was fouled, referee Fergal Kelly played the advantage however and Odhran Murdock hit the net.
The sides were level again 1-08 each on 55 minutes when Daithi McGowan, who was only on as a sub scored from a well-taken ’45.
It was all square again as the six minutes stoppage time was announced and a frantic finish ensued, with both sides desperate for a winning score.
It was Meath who found two in the end after Cathal Hickey was denied a goal by Kane. As in the second minute of stoppage time McGowan and Donal Lenihan converted frees to give Colm O’Rourke’s men victory.
Down: Niall Kane (0-01, 45); Anthony Doherty, Pierce Laverty, Patrick McCarthy; Danny Magill, Daniel Guinness (0-01), Ceilum Doherty; Patrick Branagan, Odhran Murdock (1-00); Shealan Johnston, Donach McAleenan, Liam Kerr (0-02,1f); Conor Francis, Pat Havern (0-05f), Eugene Branagan
Subs: Ryan McEvoy for E Branagan 54, Ross Carr for Francis 58, Shane Annett for P Branagan 70+2, Eamon Brown for McAleenan 70+4
Meath: Sean Brennan; Adam O’Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O’Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Gray; Ciaran Caulfield, James McEntee (0-02), Jack O’Connor (0-01); Jordan Morris (1-03, 1pen, 1m), Matthew Costello (0-01), Aaron Lynch
Subs: Jack Flynn (0-01, 1f) for Caulfield 33, Donal Lenihan (0-01f)for Lynch 42, Daithi McGowan (0-02,1f,’45)for Gray 55, Cillian O’Sullivan for O’Connor 58, Cathal Hickey for McEntee 65
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
