Published: Wednesday, 17th February, 2010 4:56pm

Meath suffer break down

by Fergal Lynch

Down 0-12, Meath 0-8

Meath's David Bray is closely watched by Down's James Colgan during Saturday evening's NFL Div 2 game at Elser Park, Newry.
Pic by==: 97

There are times when you have to hold your hands up and admit you were beaten by the better team and as Meath trooped away from Pairc Elser last into the freezing cold Saturday evening they did so in the knowledge that Down deserved their NFL Div 2 victory.

Eamonn O'Brien's side can point to opportunities wasted and occasions when their defence could have been tighter, but throughout the contest the hosts dominated proceedings and further underlined the promise they showed in trouncing Kildare the previous week.

Meath started slowly and finished worse. Their crawl from the traps left them 0-1 to 0-5 adrift after 22 minutes and by the time Nigel Crawford posted their first point from play in the 31st minute Down were 0-6 to 0-3 clear.

Despite their overwhelming superiority, Down failed to make the impact on the scoreboard that they could have reasonably expected and much of that must go down to the resolve of the Meath defence.

One thing is for sure Meath cannot be accused of lacking passion or heart for the battle. They got stuck in and made life difficult for Down, but there were times, especially in the second-half, when Down's incessant running game wore them down.

The hosts deployed two different tactics in either half. In the opening period they pressurised Meath then funnelled men back into defence to smother Meath's attacking threat.

During that period, Meath struggled to get any kind of foothold in the contest with Mark Ward and Crawford doing enough at midfield to prevent Down from totally lording proceedings.

Down were inspired by the brilliance of Daniel Hughes who ran the show for the Ulster men from his roving half-forward role. O'Brien deployed several men in an attempt to shackle Hughes, but they had no luck as his link play created plenty of chances.

Hughes wasn't alone in causing Meath problems. John Clarke, Brendan Coulter and Ambrose Rodgers also enjoyed decent forays forward as the Meath defence struggled.

It was only when Down deployed more and more men back in defence that the pressure was lifted and Meath started to come more into the game, with Mark Ward producing another outstanding display.

If Down's first-half policy was to crowd their defence then in the second period they ran everything at pace and in numbers. Meath were at sixes and sevens and it was only their heart and determination to resist cracking under the incessant Down pressure that ensured they were still in the game until the end.

While there was enough to be pleased about in terms of commitment and hunger, there was plenty to be worried about with many players not stepping up to the required mark for this level.

Only four of Meath's disappointing tally came from play and there was a plethora of missed chances with some decent passages of play spoiled by trying to be over-elaborate or by not being focused.

David Bray opted to pass when presented with a goal chance in the 34th minute and then Peadar Byrne's effort was disappointing. Meath were slow to react when Graham Reilly's poor point attempt 13 minutes into the second-half almost crept into the net, but rebounded off the post and when handed a great goal opportunity to tie the game 14 minutes from the end Cian Ward blasted over.

On a positive note Meath created plenty of chances, but there was a distinct inability to take enough of those opportunities.

There were too many long scoreless periods. After opening the scoring inside the first minute with a David Bray free after he was fouled, Meath then had to wait another 24 minutes for their next score.

In that intervening period Down dominated with frees from Paul McComiskey and Clarke, after poor indiscretions by Cormac McGuinness and Niall McKeigue, as well as scores from John Clarke, Martin Clarke and Rodgers gave the Mourne men a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.

After a number of missed chances Meath eventually found their range again when David Bray pointed his second free, but three minutes later Paddy O'Rourke took down McComiskey and the Down forward converted the free himself.

It took inspirational points from Crawford and Mark Ward to settle Meath and after David Bray and Byrne squandered a goal chance Cian Ward converted a free after his cousin Mark Ward was fouled to leave Meath just 0-5 to 0-6 adrift at the break.

Meath had given an indication that they could be a handful with their late burst in the first-half, but after the break it took them another 25 minutes to register their sixth point with Cian Ward pointing brilliantly on the turn, but by that stage Meath were 0-6 to 0-8 behind after John Clarke and Rodgers added to their first-half tally.

Hughes went close to grabbing the opening goal, but the ball got stuck under his feet and at the three quarters stage Meath almost got in for a goal, but Cian Ward's brilliant pass to David Bray was deflected out for a '45'.

McComiskey made it 0-9 to 0-6 before Cian Ward blasted the best goal chance of the contest over the bar and after that let-off Down kicked on again.

O'Rourke made a brilliant save to deny Coulter, but another defensive mix up allowed John Clarke to stretch Down's lead. Conor McGinn put the hosts two scores clear, 0-11 to 0-7 and when McComiskey fisted over a minute later it signalled the end of Meath's ambitions.

Cian Ward did post a free with two minutes left, but with Down holding firm in defence it was Meath who were left to rue their missed chances and slump to defeat.

Down - Brendan McVeigh; Daniel McCartan, Brendan McArdle, Damien Rafferty; Kevin McKernan, James Colgan, Conor Garvey; Ambrose Rodgers (0-2), Kalum King; Conor Maginn (0-1), Martin Clarke (0-2, one free), Daniel Hughes; Paul McComiskey (0-4, three frees), John Clarke (0-3), Brendan Coulter. Subs - Aidan Brannigan for McKernan 24 mins, Conor Laverty for Hughes 64m, Stephen Kearney for Mcginn 68m, Paul Fitzpatrick for King 70+3m.

Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Niall McKeigue, James Macken, Eoghan Harrington; Mickey Burke, Cormac Guinness, Graham Reilly; Nigel Crawford (0-1), Mark Ward (0-1); Seamus Kenny, Stephen Bray, Peadar Byrne; David Bray (0-2, frees), Jamie Queeney, Cian Ward (0-4, two frees). Subs - Chris O'Connor for McKeigue half-time, Ollie Lewis for Kenny 46mins, Joe Sheridan for Queeney 65m, Anthony Moyles for Crawford 65m.

Referee - Joe McQuillan (Cavan).

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