Sport

Down too soft up front

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round One/Meath 1-10 Down 0-8: Down's interest in the championship ended as they bowed out meekly…

Mon Jul 09 2007 - 01:00

All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round One/Meath 1-10 Down 0-8:Down's interest in the championship ended as they bowed out meekly to Meath in Páirc Esler Newry on Saturday evening in this first-round qualifier.

Down dominated midfield through Dan Gordon and Jack Lynch but their forwards wasted good chances and were generally unable to break down a strong Meath defence.

Just one point from play - and that after just two minutes by Benny Coulter - was their only flash of excellence. Their other points came from placed balls by centre half forward Aidan Carr. In contrast only two Meath scores came from frees, by Brian Farrell.

Despite playing second fiddle for most of the 70 minutes Down could have snatched victory in the four minutes of added time at the end, when after fine build-ups Aidan Carr and Ronan Sexton shot inches wide.

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Against a stiff breeze Down opened with Coulter's point and added a second from a free by Carr after seven minutes.

The Meath captain, Anthony Moyles - who had an outstanding game, dominating at centre half back and helping his labouring midfield - raced into space for a point after 10 minutes.

Two minutes later came the killer blow as Shane O'Rourke, Meath's towering full forward, set up Peadar Byrne for the game's only goal.

That score inspired Meath; Farrell, from a free, Moyles and Stephen Bray added points.

Carr pointed two Down frees and Meath led 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time.

Despite facing the breeze Meath added five points in the third quarter to lead by seven, Bray scoring two and Moyles, Niall McLoughlin and O'Rourke contributing one apiece.

Carr, almost inevitably, posted Down's only responses.

DOWN: B McVeigh; A Scullion, J Clarke, B Grant; R Murtagh, D Rooney, M Cole; D Gordon, J Lynch; B Coulter (0-1), A Carr (0-7 frees), R Sexton; M Walsh, S Kearney, J McGovern. Subs: P Murphy for M Cole, K McGuigan for B Grant (both 31 mins); P McComiskey for M Walsh (55 mins); A Rodgers for S Kearney (57 mins).

MEATH: B Murphy; E Harrington, D Fay, N McKeigue; S Kenny, A Moyles (0-3), C King; M ward, N Crawford; J Donegan, K Reilly, P Byrne (1-0); S Bray (0-3), S O'Rourke (0-1), B Farrell (0-2 frees). Subs: N McLoughlin (0-1) for J Donegan (27 mins); C McCarthy for N Crawford (57 mins).

Referee: P McGovern (Galway).