Joe McDonagh Cup

DOWN 1-27 MEATH 2-16

Down ensured they’ll be playing Joe McDonagh Cup hurling again next year with this fine victory over Meath.

A tight match for most of the contest, the Mourne-men found an extra gear in the final quarter when they outscored Meath by 1-8 to 1-2.

Down had started the match in impressive fashion too, forging five points deep into the first-half, but Meath hit the last three points of the half to remind the hosts they hadn’t gone away.

An opportunistic goal by Meath’s Alan Douglas in the second-half when he lobbed Down goalkeeper from distance looked like being a real tonic for his team, but, credit to Down, they recovered well from this set-back.

The Mourne Men struck a decisive blow on 59 minutes when Ryan McCusker raced onto a perfect Daithi Sands delivery before finishing to the back of the net clinically.

Jack Reagan hit back for Meath when he drove a 21-metre free to the back of the net five minutes form the end, but Down finished with a flourish from there, scoring seven points in the closing minutes of the match to win comfortably enough in the end.