Royals up their game to earn final joust with Down

Another clash with an Ulster team is in the pipeline for Meath hurlers after they defeated Derry today 3-24 to 2-18 in the Christy Ring Cup semi-final to earn a Croke Park clash with Down

Today's game in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh was a tough, tight affair that Meath only started to dominate in the closing stages. 

Yet again there was another high-scoring contribution from Meath's prolific half-forward Jack Regan who hit 1-14, 12 frees. 

The lead changed hands several times during an entertaining contest that ebbed and flowed with Meath leading 0-15 to 2-8 at the break. 

Derry's goals were scored by Gerald Bradley and Se McGuigan and they really rattled the Meath challenge. However, Nick Fitzgerald's charges dusted themselves off and bounced back. 

Meath also showed they had a sharp cutting edge in the second-half with Regan finding the net from close range on 57 minutes after the Derry defence was slow to clear. Gavin McGowan got a second soon after with a clever flick with substitute Nickey Potterton coming on to fire home a spectacular goal in the closing stages. 

The excellent Adam Gannon contributed four points for the winners while Alan Douglas, Cathal McCabe, Damien Healy, McGowan and Stephen Morris also pointed. Shane McGann also made an excellent save from a Cormac O'Doherty penalty in that second-half (see below). 

Now Meath can turn their attentions to facing Down to defeated Roscommon in the other semi-final. 

SEE MATCH REPORTS, ANALYSIS AND JOHN QUIRKE'S PHOTOGRAPHS FROM TODAY'S GAME IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE