Five-star Royals are moving well

MEATH’S preparations for the forthcoming championship moved up a few gears with a 5-13 to 0-12 victory over Down in a challenge match to mark the opening of Kilmainham’s new facilities on Sunday evening.

Both counties are five weeks away from their first outing, but it was Meath who made the bigger impression as they easily brushed aside their disappointing visitors.

Both teams were quite similar to the teams that faced each other in the NFL just two months ago when Down defeated Meath, but on the evidence of this outing the Royals have improved significantly and look to be moving well ahead of their Leinster SFC opener against the winners of the Louth v Wicklow first-round clash.

Mickey Newman from the host club made his return to the county colours after a spell sidelined through injury and his form proved a boost as he ended with 1-4. Newman played no part in the NFL campaign and was withdrawn after 35 minutes of action in this one.

Down conceded four opening-half goals and the Mourne men will take nothing from this clash into their Ulster SFC opener against Armagh on June 4th.

For Meath there were plenty of positives.

Defensively they looked excellent, conceding just five times from play and limiting Down to only one decent goal chance which they weren’t able to take.

Dunboyne’s Ronan Jones took his chance at midfield in the absence of James Toher, while Mickey Burke saw action in the full back berth.

It was clear from the off that Meath were sharper and Newman was denied a goal after just 25 seconds by a brilliant save from Michael Cunningham.

Newman did open the scoring in the fourth minute and 90 seconds later Burke galloped forward to double that advantage.

Conor Maginn replied for Down, but in a blistering three-minute spell Shane McEntee and Newman (free) added points to Meath’s tally before Jones surged forward from midfield and executed an expert finish for the opening goal to make it 1-4 to 0-1.

Two frees from Darragh O’Hanlon and a second point for Maginn settled Down, but Meath continued to press and after Newman added two more points, one from a free, Donal Lenihan banged home a second goal to make it 2-6 to 0-4.

Further goals before the break from Newman and Cillian O’Sullivan ensured the contest was settled, with Meath taking a 4-6 to 0-5 lead to the interval.

After the break O’Hanlon pulled a point back for the visitors with another free, but Meath continued to press for goals, with O’Sullivan denied brilliantly by ‘keeper Cunningham.

As Down emptied their bench Meath added points from Jones and Sean Tobin before O’Hanlon pointed his fourth free.

Two frees from Tobin made 4-10 to 0-7 at the three-quarters stage before Down’s best spell yielded five points.

Ratoath’s Cian O’Brien struck for Meath fifth goal near the end.

Preparations continue next Sunday at 6pm with another challenge, this time against Cavan to mark the opening of the Ballinlough club’s facilities.