Down 1-15 Meath 0-16

Down held on to record a two point win over Meath in this Kehoe Cup opening round game played in windy conditions at Dunganny. 

The visitors, playing with the elements, got a great start with a Eoin Pucci goal. An experimental Meath outfit were finding it difficult to get any sort of a foothold in the game as Down dominated. The men in red and black registered five unanswered points in a row through Pearse Og Crickard (2), half back Marc Fisher (2) and Caolan Taggart to lead 1-5 to 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. Tom Shine opened Meath’s account from a free but Down hit back with another unanswered five white flags and went in a the break 1-11 to 0-2 in front.

Matthew Conlon extended that lead with the first score of the second half but from there on the home team dominated. Darren O’Higgins (2), Tom Shine (3), Simon Ennis and Seanie Doyle reduced the lead to six with 15 minutes left on the clock. Down added a brace through Og McCrickard and Donal Og Rooney and looked set for victory. The Royals dug in again. Cathal Barron, Jack Walsh, Mark Leavy, Mikey Cole, Shine, and a brilliant effort from Jarlath Ennis narrow the difference to two but time ran out for Johnny Greville’s men and Down held on for the win.

Meath scorers: Tom Shine 0-5, Mikey Cole 0-2, Darren O’Higgins 0-2, Simon Ennis, Sean Doyle, Cathal Barron, Jack Walsh, Mark Leavy, Jarlath Ennis and Damien Healy 0-1 each

Down scorers: Pearse Og Crickard 0-4, Marc Fisher 0-4, Eoin Pucci 1-0, Matthew Conlon 0-2, Caolan Taggart, Ronan Beatty, Shea Pucci, Cathal Coleman and Donal Og Rooney 0-1 each

Referee Dean Alford

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