Minors feel Down as they bow out with a whimper

DOWN 2-16 MEATH 0-8

A DISAPPOINTING campaign came to an abrupt end for the Meath minor footballers following a heavy defeat in this All-Ireland Tier 3 preliminary quarter final at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.

Hopes that the county might salvage something from an otherwise forgettable season at this level were firmly dashed as Joe Crowley’s charges barely raised a gallop at any stage against a Down side that was much sharper and far more focused throughout.

The signs were ominous from the early stages and the hosts just didn’t seem to have the appetite for this new competition, following on from a poor Leinster championship campaign.

Down led from the opening minutes and with the advantage of the breeze had built up a 0-9 to 0-2 lead by half-time. They then put the game to bed in the third quarter, with their opening goal on 42 minutes leaving them 1-11 to 0-5 clear.

Meath, whose only point from play for the hour arrived on 45 minutes, were somewhat fortunate that the Mourne County only managed one further goal in the final quarter. They did create openings to add to the goal tally but instead settled for points in the closing minutes.

Cormac Smith (free) and keeper Jamie Norris accounted for Meath’s points in the first half, while Down keeper Callum Travers produced fine saves to deny both

Cormac Nugent and Evan Kelly in the opening quarter.

Seneschalstown’s Norris did well to keep out an effort from Daniel McKernan on 20 minutes, but Down found scores much easier to come by and midfielder Liam Blaney, wing forward Paul McGovern and lively full forward Barra McEvoy contributed three points each as Down enjoyed a seven-point advantage at the break. The visitors lost Oisin Murphy to a black card just before half-time.

The two Cormacs, Smith and Nugent, both converted frees within five minutes of the restart, but that was as good as it got for the hosts who were unable to take advantage of the extra man in that 10-minute spell.

Those scores were cancelled out by a ’45 from Paul McGovern, his second of the match, and one from play by Darragh Poland.

Nugent converted another free before Down moved the ball at pace the length of the pitch and it was Poland who applied the finishing touch to the net.

Evan Kelly eventually had Meath off the mark from play on 45 minutes and Nugent took his tally of points to four with two further frees in the final quarter.

Down’s second goal arrived courtesy of sub Charlie McGrath on 52 minutes which left them leading 2-13 to 0-7.

Eoin McCaffrey and Danny McLogan shot late points for the winners when they could have easily have gone for goals. DOWN: Callum Travers; Shane McParland, Oisin Murphy, Aaron McClelland; Cormac Small, Jon Rogers, Lorcan Lynch; Daniel McKernan, Liam Blaney 0-5 (2f);

Conor Ward, Darragh Poland 1-1, Paul McGovern 0-4 (2 ’45); Daniel Carr, Barra McEvoy 0-3, Caolan McGinley. Subs: Adam McCann-Gibbs for McGinley, Charlie McGrath 1-1 for Carr (both 42), James O’Hanlon for Ward (52), Eoin McCaffrey 0-1 for McGovern (54), Danny McLogan 0-1 for McEvoy (56).

MEATH: Jamie Norris (Seneschalstown 0-1 ‘45); Cillian Yore (St Ultan’s), Sean McLoughlin (Dunderry), Sean McQuillan (St Colmcille); Cian Tobin (Dunboyne), Thomas Sheridan (Oldcastle), Conal Diggins (Ballivor); Cathal Barron (Dunderry), Oran Meade (Simonstown); Eoin McCrudden (Dunboyne), Cormac Smith (Clann na nGael 0-2f), Harry Healy (Dunboyne); Evan Kelly (Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-1), Cormac Nugent (O’Mahonys 0-4f), Pat Crawley (Oldcastle). Subs: Charles McCarthy (Seneschalstown) for Barron, Ciaran Sheridan (Dunshaughlin) for Crawley (both h-t), Aidan Roche (Kilmainhamwood) for Smith (44), Patrick Yourell (O’Mahonys) for Meade (46), Adam Ducie (Ratoath) for McLoughlin (48), Ciaran Sheridan (Dunderry) for McCrudden (60).

REF: Enda Mallon (Armagh)