Worries over league status still hold true

news, as this present Mourne side looked pretty average.

Under-fire manager Eamonn Burns welcomed back a number of experienced players, including St Mary’s Sigerson Cup winner Kevin McKernan, Kilcoo’s Ryan Johnston and Darragh O’Hanlon, as well as Peter Turley and Conor Maginn.

They never relinquished that early lead and had enough in reserve the after last Meatheathregthreethree registered points of the game. me.

From the time me Joe Murphy fisted d what looked like a harmless delivery from Darragh O’Hanlon pastt a static Paddy O’Rourke, Meath th were flat and lacked ked the fighting spiritrit to compete with thehe home side.

There were numerous other deficiencies in Meath’s play which seemed to be devoid of a game plan, while possession was squandered on numerous occasions, especially in the opening half. Exactly half of Meath’s tally came courtesy of placed balls.

Down made the most of Meath’s poor ball retention and at half-time deservedly led 1-8 to 0-6. The goal stemmed from a free awarded against Alan Forde for over-carrying.

Donal Lenihan, who finished with a personal tally of seven points, hit his side’s opening three scores. Both of Down’s first two points came from Barry O’Hagan, the second of which should have been a goal, though his blasted effort at the advancing Paddy O’Rourke looked wide of the mark.

With wing back Darragh O’Hanlon on target with three points, Down led by six approaching the break before a long-range effort from Graham ReReilly (pictured left) reducereduced the deficit at half-ttime. CoCorner back DonDonal Keogan got forwforward to get on the scoring in that first half as the Meath attattack failed to mmake an impression. presimpression. Cillian O’SuO’Sullivan, who had an outstanding match in tthe win over Derry, took to the action with a mask on his face to protect a broken nose but was very quiet and didn’t appear for the second half.

His replacement Bryan McMahon shot the opening wide of the second half and Willie Carry was also wide of the mark before James Toher narrowed the deficit with a point on 41 minutes. Conaill McGovern replied for Down and they might have had a goal when Conor Maginn set up O’Hagan, but he was denied by Paddy O’Rourke.

In the ensuing goalmouth scramble O’Rourke was penalised and the referee pointed to the penalty spot before changing his mind and awarding a 13-metre free which O’Hanlon converted.

The deficit was back to six points and the home side were well on top following a Kevin McKernan effort at the three quarter-way stage. Meath were then denied a penalty following a foul on Brian Sheridan, though Lenihan converted the resultant free.

Bryan McMahon added another point, but Meath never showed the intensity sufficient to turn proceedings in their favour.

It was back to a five-point game after McKernan rounded Donal Keogan and shot Down’s last score on 66 minutes. Lenihan then took his tally to seven as Meath pressed hard from there to the finish.

There was a goal between the teams after Graham Reilly split the posts and the game was in the final minute of added time when Lenihan blasted a close-range free goalwards and wing back Willie Carry got a fist to it, but the ball was deflected over the bar by Gerard McGovern.

Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keogan 0-1, Conor McGill, Ruairi O Coileain; Willie Carry 0-1, Brian Power, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton, James Toher 0-2 (1f); Alan Forde, Cillian O’Sullivan, Cian O’Brien; Graham Reilly 0-2, Brian Sheridan, Donal Lenihan 0-7 (6f). Subs: Bryan McMahon 0-1 for O’Sullivan (h-t), Eamonn Wallace for O’Brien (48), Joey Wallace for Forde (58), David Toner for McEntee (61), Sean Tobin for Sheridan (67).

Marc Reid; Ryan McAleenan, Gerard McGovern, Darren O’Hagan; Darragh O’Hanlon 0-4 (3f), Conaill McGovern 0-1, Caolan Mooney; Peter Turley, Aidan Carr 0-1; Kevin McKernan 0-2, Conor Maginn 0-1, Joe Murphy 1-0; Shay Millar, Barry O’Hagan 0-2, Ryan Johnston 0-1. Subs: Brendan McArdle for McGovern (48), Jerome Johnston 0-1 for O’Hagan (49), Mark Poland for Mooney (65), Paul Devlin for Johnston (68), Niall Donnelly for McKernan (BC 70).

Martin McNally (Monaghan) MEATH’S generosity gifted Down two precious NFL points and a first win in almost two years, according to boss Andy McEntee (pictured below).

Speaking in the aftermath of a second defeatefeat in a row, which was a real body-blowow to promotionn aspirations, McEntee said: ‘The goal was the difference in the end, the goal and thee three points we gifted them. We had a couple of hand passes that werere turned over and the goaloal was very soft.

‘Six points was a big mountain to climb when you are giving away soft scores like that.’