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 Down
save best for last - 06/04/03
Allianz
National Football League Division 1B
Down 0-15 v Meath 1-11 
@ 3.30 p.m. Newcastle, Sunday 6th April 2003
 Down
will await the result of the Sligo and Kildare appeal
before they know
if they have been regeletad to Div 2 for next years
NFL. A
brilliant final ten minutes by Down saw them turn a
four-point deficit into a one point victory at Newcastle
today.
Down saved the best for last in their
final outing when they came from behind to snatch victory
over Meath. However, it may not be enough to save their
division one status and who accompanies Kildare in the
drop lies with the GAC who will decide on the points
in the Kildare and Sligo game on Wednesday night.
Down came of age during this game as any side who had
a good goal disallowed, a missed penalty and a free
sent wide in the final ten minutes would have broken
but not this young Down team. Declan Sheerin, making
his senior debut at midfield impressed for Down but
the real star was Liam Doyle.
Proceedings got off to a cracking start
when the home side's Patrick Pearse McCartan pointed
after just 28 seconds but the tone of the match was
cemented less than a minute later when Ollie Murphy
popped up to equalise for the visitors. It was that
kind of match, tit-for-tat, nip and tuck with neither
side holding sway for more than a fleeting moment. Dan
Gordon and Nigel Nestor pointed in turn for Down and
Meath respectively as the pace of the game was unrelenting.
Gradually Down began to edge ahead in the possession
stakes but too many of their moves died a death with
a poor final pass and at the feet of the outstanding
Mark Reilly in the Meath defence.
The sides were level at 0-3 each midway
through the first half before Paddy Reynolds overlapped
on the right for Meath's goal. Playing against the stiffening
breeze in the first half, Down came under steadily increasing
pressure and points by Charles McCarthy and Nigel Nestor
increased Meath's confidence. And when Paddy Reynolds
overlapped and brillantly slammed the ball to the Down
net in the 24th minute, Down looked really rattled.
Down kept in touch before Evan Kelly, Trevor Giles and
Hank Traynor had Meath points to lead by 1-6 to 0-5
at half time.
Down
started the second half in sprightly fashion and it
took a great save by the Meath keeper to deny Dan Gordon
an early goal. Controlled at the back by the inspirational
Darren Fay at full-back, Meath held firm as Down pressed
forward but then the dismissal of Charles McCarthy after
58 minutes swung the pendulum Down's way. In a frenetic
final ten minutes, Down hit over points from Liam Doyle,
Gregory McCartan and Liam Walsh.
Down's
Gregory McCartan saw his penalty effort go high and
wide moments later. Liam Doyle also hit a goal - but
it was disallowed. The Mourne men didn't give up though
and McCartan atoned with a point and another one from
Doyle in injury time secured the win for Down.
DOWN:
M. McVeigh; J. Clarke, B. Burns, B. Grant; J. Lavery,
A. Molloy, M. Cole; G. McCartan (0-2), D. Sheerin; L.
Doyle (0-6), M. Walsh (0-1) , P. P. McCartan (0-2);
D. Rooney (0-1), D. Gordon (0-3), S. Ward.
Subs: C. McCrickard for D. Sheerin; R. Murtagh for S.
ward; J. McCartan for D. Rooney; G. McMahon for M. Walsh;
S. Mulholland for J. Lavery.
MEATH:
D. Gallagher; M. O'Reilly, S. McGowan, N. McKeague;
P. Reynolds (1-0), D. Fay, E. Kelly (0-2); C. McCarthy
(0-1), N. Nestor (0-1); D. Curtis (0-1), T. Giles (0-2)
, R. Kealy; H. Traynor (0-1), D. Crimmons (0-1), O.
Murphy (0-2).
Subs: J. Cullinane for N. Nestor; A. Kenny for E. Kelly;
N. Kelly for S. McGowan.
Referee: E. Murtagh (Longford).
Division
1B Results and League Table
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