Meath have another chance despite narrow reversal

Down 2-23, Meath 1-19 If Meath are to achieve Christy Ring Cup glory this year then they will have to do it the hard way following this defeat by Down at Pairc Esler, Newry on Saturday afternoon. Meath twice threw away big leads as Down produced a stunning second-half performance against a tiring visiting side that suffered more from Sean Heavey's dismissal than Down's loss of Michael Hughes. Heavey's dismissal, following an altercation with Hughes, was harsh on the Kildalkey man as both players merited no more than yellow cards. That would have meant a second caution for the Down man. Heavey's powerful presence in attack was sorely missed by a Meath side that tired significantly in the final 20 minutes and saw all their good work unravel. There were spells when Meath were awesome. The touch was top drawer and the pace, power and commitment without question. They overwhelmed Down in the opening 10 minutes and raced into a 1-6 to 0-0 lead, early in the second-half they stole another march to pull 1-13 to 1-6 clear. Down's ability to close out the Meath attacks and counter on the break proved decisive as they hit 1-13 in the final 29 minutes to give an unfair reflection on the scoreboard. When Meath were good they were excellent with Shane McGann excelling in goals and James Toher and Enda Keogh impressing at the back. Stephen Clynch was a dominant force in midfield while Noel Kirby (pictured) and Peter Durnin were constant threats in attack. However, when Down enjoyed their purple patches many of Meath's weaknesses were exposed with midfield getting cleaned out in the second-half while the troubled full-back line endured a torrid afternoon. It was a thrilling afternoon of hurling as the game ebbed and flowed and 32 of the 45 scores came from play as both sides took advantage of some poor defending. There were also moments on individual genius with Durnin clipping over some impressive points, Fintan Conway and Michael Turley did likewise for the hosts. Ultimately Meath ran out of steam and ideas. After adding two early second-half points to pull seven points clear they couldn't contain their hosts and struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking over sufficiently. It had all looked so much better for Meath after 10 minutes after they assumed total control with Kirby opening the scoring after 90 seconds. Further points from Clynch (two), Stephen Donoghue, Durnin and Kirby (free) after Clynch had been fouled made it 0-6 to 0-0 before James Kelly stole in for an excellently worked goal after brilliant play by Stephen Morris and Kirby. Meath were hurling out of their skin at this stage and even after Paul Sheehan capitalised on a mistake by Willie Mahady to open Down's account, the visitors maintained their nine-point cushion with Heavey capitalising on a poor clearance. Then it was Meath's turn to be sloppy at the back. Damien Healy's batted down Paul Braniff's short '65' to Conor Mageean who found tthe net through a forest of legs. Two Kirby points either side of an Aaron O'Prey effort saw Meath end the opening quarter with a 1-9 to 1-2 advantage, but that scoring rate slowed to a dribble for the remainder of the half as Down began to settle. Keogh had to be alert to deny O'Prey and Mageean goal chances before Sheehan and Toher traded points. After Heavey and Hughes were dismissed Down seemed to profit from the extra room as they closed the half with two pointed Braniff frees and one from O'Prey in reply to a Durnin effort which ensured a 1-11 to 1-6 half-time advantage for Meath. Within two minutes of the restart Meath stretched their lead to 1-13 to 1-6 with Durnin lofting over two great points. Kirby added a free in response to an easy point for Braniff and Meath still looked comfortable with a seven-point lead, but they quickly ran out of steam and Down took advantage. Colm O Mealoid's mis-directed hand pass gifted Conor Woods an easy point and further scores from O'Prey, Andy Savage and Caolan Baille closed the gap to 1-11 to 1-15, Durning pointed for Meath. Donoghue's goal chance was saved by Stephen Keith Down and McGann produced heroics to deny Mageean a goal. Mahady was deemed to have over-carried the subsequent clearance and Braniff pointed the resultant free. Another Kirby free restored a four-point lead for Meath, but a blistering three-minute spell from the hosts yielded points from Conway (two), Braniff (free) and Baille as Down restored parity before the end of the third-quarter (1-16 apiece). By that stage Meath were out on their feet. Durnin was denied a tired looking effort by Keith before Down went in front for the first time with points from Michael Turley (two) and Braniff (free). Kirby added two pointed frees either side of a similar score for Braniff to close the gap to 1-18 to 1-20 with six minutes remaining and after Donal Hughes and Paddy Conneely traded scores that two-point margin remained with three minutes left, but Meath couldn't add to their tally as Down finished strong. Braniff and Darragh Hobbs tagged over points before Braniff netted Down's second goal from the penalty spot with the last puck of the game after Enda Fitzgerald had fouled O'Prey to compound Meath's misery. SCORERS Down- P Braniff 1-8, penalty goal, six frees; A O'Prey 0-3; C Mageean 1-0; F Conway 0-2; M Turley 0-2; P Sheehan 0-2; C Baille 0-2; C Woods 0-1; A Savage 0-1; D Hughes 0-1; D Hobbs 0-1. Meath - N Kirby 0-8 six frees; P Durnin 0-5; J Kelly 1-0; S Clynch 0-2; S Donoghue 0-1; S Heavey 0-1; J Toher 0-1; P Conneely 0-1. THE TEAMS Down - S Keith; J Smyth, M Hughes, S Ennis; F Conway, C Woods, M Cunningham; A Savage, M Ennis; P Sheehan, P Braniff, A O Prey; D Toner, M Turley, C Mageean. Subs - C Baille for Toner 30 mins, D Hughes for Mageean 46m, D Hobbs for Sheehan 69m. Meath - S McGann; C Reilly, E Fitzgerald, W Mahady; J Toher, D Healy, E Keogh; S Morris, S Clynch; J Kelly, S Donoghue, C O Mealoid; S Heavey, N Kirby, P Durnin. Subs - P Conneely for Healy 47 mins, C Fitzsimons for Donoghue 57m, D Raleigh for Kelly 67m. REFEREE Eamonn Hassan (Derry).