Division Two Round-up: A second- half goal from blood substitute Keith Callaghan proved crucial as Meath defeated Down by 2-10 to 0-12 in Navan in the opening round of Division Two's second series.
Callaghan drove the ball to the net with his first touch after being introduced temporarily for Dan Dorran to put his side ahead for the first time at 2-9 to 0-12 after 57 minutes.
Antrim just survived a Kerry fightback in the second half to win by a point - 2-14 to 2-13 - at Austin Stack Park yesterday.
Man of the match Brian McFall grabbed that all important winner two minutes into injury time. Dinny Ryan's side led by eight points at the end of the first half, 2-6 to 0-4, thanks to goals from Paul Close and Brian McFall.
In Mullingar, the clinical finishing of Westmeath corner forward Daniel Carty was the main difference between the sides as Westmeath secured a 5-14 to 0-13 victory over Carlow. Three first-half goals from the diminuitive Carty kept Westmeath's hopes of promotion very much alive.
MEATH: M Gannon; S Wallace, R Dorran, P Gannon; P Roche, C Sheridan, K Dowd; B Perry D Fagan (0-1); S Clynch, D Dorran (0-2), M Cole; E Lynam (0-2), N Horan (0-4), P Coone (1-1). Subs: T Lynch for Clynch, K Callaghan (1-0) for Coone.
DOWN: Graham Clarke; L Clarke, M Braniff, Gabriel Clarke; M Pucci, M Coulter snr (0-3), B Millington; G Adair (0-1), P Monan; G McGrattan (0-1), B Coulter, E Trainor; M Coulter jnr (0-6), G Johnson, S Clarke (0-1). Sub: R Murray for B Coulter.
Referee: S Whelan (Wexford).
ANTRIM: D Quinn; M Kettle, C Kelly, J Campbell; M McCambridge, K McKeegan, C Herron; R McNaughton, J Connolly (0-1); L Richmond (0-1), C McGuckian (0-2), L Watson (0-2, one free); P Close (1-1), A Murt (0-2), B McFall (1-4, two frees). Subs: P Richmond (0-1) for L Richmond (50 mins) P Gillen for C Kelly (64 mins), C Cunning for R McNaughton (65 mins).
KERRY: J Healy; T Cronin, C Flaherty, H F Twomey; J McCarthy, A Cronin, WJ Leen; B O'Sullivan, M Murnane; S Brick (0-3), B Brick (0-3), P O'Connell (0-2, frees); M Slattery (1-2), M Conway, J M Dooley (1-0). Subs: L Boyle (0-3) for M Murnane (34 mins), I Brick for T Cronin (half-time), C Harris for B O'Sullivan (56 mins).
Referee: K Healy (Cork).
WESTMEATH: B Conaty; M Williams, B Murtagh (0-1), B Williams (0-1); D Hurley, V Bateman, S McDonnell; J Brennan, G Briody; P Dowdall (0-2), D McCormack (1-1), B Kennedy; J Shaw (0-3), C Murtagh (1-0), D Carty (3-4). Subs: J Forbes (0-2) for Kennedy, E Loughlin for Briody
CARLOW: F Foley; C Nolan, M Kehoe, B Shaw; K Nolan, S Kavanagh, L Hickey; J Hickey, R Foley (0-1); S Smithers, D Murphy (0-1), Pat Coady (0-9); P Kehoe, E Spruhan, K English (0-1). Subs: G Doran (0-1) For English, B Murphy for Spruhan, S Shiel for J Hickey, Paddy Coady for C Nolan.
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
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