Meath hoping to upset the odds against Down

NHL DIV 2 PREVIEW

Meath hurlers will be back in action in Trim on Sunday (1.15pm) after two wins on the bounce in their opening two games of the NHL Div 2 campaign, writes Tom Gannon.

Hopes of maintaining that momentum though are slim as they come up against a Down side that, in recent times, have gotten the better of the Royals every time they have crossed paths.

Ahead of the game against Tyrone two weeks ago, Meath supporters were full of confidence that they would be able to see off the Ulster side with relative ease, but that proved not to be the case and the resilient Red Hand county turned the clash into a dogged encounter for Johnny Greville's men.

Meath will have the slight advantage of playing in Trim on Sunday, but with two other adult county sides in action elsewhere, it's hard to know how much of a surplus the home supporters will actually have when Down arrives to town.

Donegal, who Meath scraped past in round one, to their credit put in a good showing against Down in round two, but three goals proved costly to the Tír Conaill men and they were beaten by nine in the end.

For Meath to be able to get within five points of their Ulster adversaries it will require a gutsy performance. Johnny Greville's side is capable of just that, but the Westmeath's man mission is a long one and victory over Down at this stage of his tenure is not currently on the agenda.