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DOWN..........2-10
MEATH..........0-10
- 29/03/03
THE Minor team manager and his selectors
made seven changes to the team which won their opening
game last week. At the beginning it was difficult to say
whether or not they were experimenting. Not much is known
about the strength of the opposition at this early stage
of the season but Meath, on Saturday, presented a strong
physical side who were confident and at the end disappointed
with the result.
Down matched the Meath boys at midfield
where Joe Ireland and Daniel McCabe were strong in the
air, and at the back there were impressive defensive performances
from Stephen Toner, Mark Rooney and Owen Henry.
Will-o-the-wisp corner forward Conor
Laverty opened the scoring with a first minute point for
Down and throughout the first half they kept their noses
in front, to lead 0-06 to 0-04 at half time. Meath were
last to score in the first half and in a good spell in
the opening ten minutes of the second half they added
six points without reply to lead 0-10 to 0-06.
At the end of the third quarter Aidan
Carr, Jason Brown and Mark Poland came off the bench to
lead a Down charge in the closing stages. Laverty, Brown
and Sands began to take the Meath back-line apart and
with Carr complementing Ireland at the middle of the field
there was now a fluidity about the Down play. A strong
run by James McGovern was rewarded with a Down point before
the same player knocked down a long free-kick from Brown,
and Laverty had the simplest task to put the ball in the
net, and the scores were level. They might have had a
second goal almost immediately but the Meath keeper did
well to deflect a shot from Poland over the bar. Down
were now enjoying themselves and with six minutes remaining,
the powerful McGovern gave them the lead.
Some of the Down movement was now a treat
to watch and a great run by Owen Henry started the move
which saw Sands and Poland involved before Brown scored
the second goal.
Team and scorers : Phelim McGreevy, Kilcoo; Stephen Toner,
Bryansford; Aidan Flanagan, An Riocht; Ryan Lynch, Bosco;
Mark Rooney, Bosco; Gary Quinn, Longstone; Owen Henry,
Warrenpoint; Daniel McCabe, Drumgath; Joe Ireland, Bryansford;
Kevin McGovern, Burren; James Doran, Ballymartin; James
McGovern, Burren, 0-03; Conor Laverty, Kilcoo, 1-01; Brendan
McGourty, Ballycran and Stephen Sands, Saval, 0-04.
Subs used : Jason Brown, Clonduff, 1-01;
Aidan Carr, Clonduff and Mark Poland, Longstone, 0-01.
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