Fitzgerald keeps faith with same 15 for Ring Cup final

Meath manager Nick Fitzgerald has kept faith with the same 15 that defeated Derry in the semi-final for Saturday's Christy Ring Cup final against Down at Croke Park, 2pm.
As is always the case when it comes to finals Fitzgerald had some very difficult decisions to make, but with a couple of players ruled out through injury and because the team had played so well against Derry he has opted to stick with a winning formula.
The only difference from the team that beat Derry is that Alan Douglas will wear the number 14 jersey as Adam Gannon, who was a late replacement for Callum O'Sullivan in that semi-final, is listed to start in the corner.

Meath (v Down) - Shane McGann; Ger Murphy, Darragh Kelly, Shane Whitty; Shane Brennan, Keith Keoghan, James Kelly; Sean Geraghty, Cathal McCabe; Damien Healy, Barry Slevin, Jack Regan; Gavin McGowan, Alan Douglas, Adam Gannon.

MATCH PREVIEW
After four games, and lengthy journeys that took them to venues in Connacht and Ulster, Meath are on the cusp of finally reaching their destination and bagging the big prize - the Christy Ring Cup. 
They take on Down in the decider at Croke Park on Saturday, 2pm. It’s a game Meath can win and by so doing reclaim the trophy they bagged for the first, and so far, only time three years ago. 
Remember 2016? The drama, the excitement, the controversy that kicked off when Meath ‘defeated’ Antrim in the first game at headquarters, or at least they thought they had defeated them. An Antrim point was incorrectly credited to Meath by the scoreboard operator. Meath ‘won’ by 2-18 to 1-20 and the trophy was presented, but a replay was organised, first in Newry. When Meath made it clear they wouldn’t travel it was decided to go back to Croke Park. This time Meath DID win, 4-21 to 5-17, but only after extra-time. 
Now the Royals have another Ulster side standing between them and victory; the men from the Mourne County. 
Reflecting on Down’s campaign so far it’s impossible to know which team in red and black will show up. Will it be the team that lost their opening Christy Ring Cup encounter to Derry? Will it be the team that chalked up a very respectable win over Wicklow in the second round? Or will it be the team that ran riot against Donegal and comfortably accounted for Roscommon in the semi-finals?
Managed by Ronan Sheehan, Down have their quota of big-game players. There’s Eoghan Sands for example who hit 1-8 against Wicklow. He’s someone who clearly can turn opportunities into chances. Then there’s Oisin McManus. He is Down’s go-to freetaker and he too can punish opponents - if given the chance.
Liam Savage and Phelim Savage are very effective in hoovering up ball around midfield, while Christy Moorehouse is a player who has been around for some time and can take chances that come his way - again, if he is given the opportunity. 
That’s something that will be crucial to deciding Saturday’s game. Which team can take a greater percentage of the chances that come their way? Another issue will be vital. Which team will be able to build the stronger, more formidable defensive battlements? 
While Down have their sharpshooters, so have Meath - and there’s nobody in the competition proving sharper than Jack Regan who has amassed 1-55 so far. Sure, the vast majority of these are from placed balls, but that fact alone indicates that if Down concede any frees inside their half they will be punished severely by the Kiltale marksman. 
Regan grabbed his first goal of the campaign against Derry in the semi-final at the Athletic Grounds - and it set Meath on the road to victory. Up to then the teams were close, but Regan’s strike sparked the momentum that carried the Royals to victory with Gavin McGowan and the hugely talented youngster Nicky Potterton also pushing on to find the net. 
Meath manager Nicky Fitzgerald must have been relieved to see those goals go in because in the previous outing against Roscommon, the Royals were unable to create a decent goal-scoring opportunity - and as Fitzgerald said with a wry smile after the win over Derry “goals win games.”
That was one of the positive aspects of Meath’s display against Derry. Another was the performance of Adam Gannon who has bounced back from his injury woes with a renewed vigour and sparkle. With his pacy, strong runs and ability to pick off scores he was major threat for the Royals - and the wide open spaces of Croke Park should suit his style. 
Another big player for Meath throughout the campaign was Damien Healy; he had one of his quieter games against Derry, but he too can shine at headquarters. The Ulster side had put one of their tallest players, Liam Og Hinphey, on him and his influence was curtailed, but the Longwood man is one for the big occasion.
In Shane McGann Meath have a super ‘keeper as he showed once again in saving a penalty against Derry. This could be McGann’s last game in a Meath jersey for some time as he is planning to travel abroad. One aspect of the Derry game Meath will not recall fondly was the manner in which they conceded two soft goals, highlighting a defensive frailty that will need to be addressed. Meath cannot afford any lapses against free-scoring Down forwards. 
Down’s potency in attack is underlined in the way they have chalked up 14-79 in their campaign so far, conceding 8-69 - a plus difference of 6-10. That compares favourably with the 7-87 clocked up by Meath who leaked a combined tally of 3-63 - a plus difference of 4-24.
However, Meath have shown they have the willingness and ability to improve when required - and that ability could be crucial in helping them claim the Christy Ring Cup again.