Meath secure semi-final spot with impressive victory

While Down's limitations were obvious, Meath were impressive in their approach as they secured a place in the NFL Div 2 North promotion semi-final with a 2-15 to 0-14 victory in the Athletic Grounds Armagh today.

There might be slight cause for concern that Meath conceded four of the last five scores, but the reality of the contest was that the issue had long since been resolved with Cillian O'Sullivan's two second-half goals settling the contest.

Despite having to play 20 minutes of the opening half with 14 men following a first minute black card for Eoin Harkin and a 24th minute sin-binning for Shane McEntee, Meath always looked in command and should have been more than two points clear at the break.

However, in a blistering third quarter O'Sullivan's two goals helped Meath outscore Down by 2-4 to 0-1 in the first 15 minutes of the second-half and that rendered the rest of the game a mere formality.

Such an easy outcome didn't look likely when Meath were reduced to 14 men just a minute into the game when Harkin was harshly pulled up for a foul on Caloan Mooney, but instead of capitulating Meath pressed on with Cathal Hickey opening the scoring before Matt Costello doubled the lead with brilliant point.

Donal Keogan rattled the crossbar in the fifth minute with a stunning strike and even though Corey Quinn pulled a point back on the counter for Down it was all Meath as they stretched their lead with Andy Colgan ('45') and O'Sullivan on target to make it 0-4 to 0-1 before Harkin returned.

Bryan McMahon put four between the sides from a mark and while Down were second best they did have chances with Colgan making a brilliant save to deny Quinn before the Mayobridge man closed the gap to 0-2 to 0-5 at the water break.

Jordan Morris restored Meath's four-point cushion with a magnificent score when play resumed, but then a black card for McEntee handed Down the initiative again and they took advantage with Paul Devlin opening his account from a free and Ryan McEvoy on target to make it 0-4 to 0-6.

A couple of missed efforts from long range from Colgan were followed by a converted close-range free from Thomas O'Reilly, but Down stayed in touch with another Devlin free.

O'Sullivan forced Marc Reid into a brilliant save to maintain his clean sheet and after McEntee returned Devlin and Morris traded frees to ensure a 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead for Meath.

Morris stretched that lead within 19 seconds of the resumption before another harsh call against the Meath rearguard gifted Devlin another free.

However Meath assumed control. Morris's pointed free was quickly followed by O'Sullivan's bundled goal and after Jonny Flynn was black carded for an off the ball challenge on Costello the 'visitors' put the issue beyond doubt with Morris pointing either side of O'Sullivan's brilliant turnover goal to make it 2-12 to 0-7.

The remainder of the contest was academic as both sides emptied their benches and as the game lost its rhythm it was Down who hit the next two points with Barry O'Hagan and Devlin on target from frees to close the gap to 0-9 to 2-12 at the second water break.

Morris and Eamon Wallace traded scores with Quinn (two, one free) to maintain the nine-point cushion with 10 minutes remaining.

Flynn cut the deficit to eight before Gerard McGovern was issued a straight red card for a clash with Costello in the 68th minute.

Ethan Devine closed Meath's account from a mark and even though Down finished with two late points from substitute Conor McCrickard they were a long way second best as Meath maintain their bid for a swift return to Div 1.

SCORERS

Meath - Cillian O'Sullivan 2-1; Jordan Morris 0-7 three frees; Bryan McMahon 0-1 mark; Cathal Hickey 0-1; Matt Costello 0-1; Andy Colgan 0-1 '45'; Thomas O'Reilly 0-1 free; Eamon Wallace 0-1; Ethan Devine 0-1 mark.

Down - Paul Devlin 0-5 frees; Corey Quinn 0-4 one free; Ryan McEvoy 0-2 one free; Conor McCrickard 0-2 one free Barry O'Hagan 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Cathal Hickey; Eoin Harkin, Shane McEntee, Donal Keogan; Bryan Menton, Padraic Harnan; Ethan Devine, Bryan McMahon, Mathew Costello; Jordan Morris, Thomas O'Reilly, Cillian O'Sullivan. Subs - Ronan Ryan for Harkin 23 mins, Joey Wallace for O'Reilly 47m, Eamon Wallace for Hickey, Jason Scully for McMahon both 53m, Darragh Campion for O'Sullivan, James Conlon for Morris both 61m, Gavin McCoy for Costello 68m, Danny Dixon for McEntee 71m.

Down - Marc Reid; Peter Fegan, Gerard McGovern, Patrick Murdock; Pierce Laverty, Darren O'Hagan, Caloan Mooney; Ryan McEvoy, Jonny Flynn; James Guinness, Barry O'Hagan, Liam Kerr; Daniel Guinness, Corey Quinn, Paul Devlin. Subs - Ceilium Doherty for J Guinness 42 mins, Paddy Branagan for Mooney, Stephen McConville for Kerr both 50m, Gerard Collins for D O'Hagan 53m, Conor Gough for Flynn, Conor McCrickard for B O'Hagan both 55m, Danny Savage for Quinn 61m.

Referee - Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)