Down 0-12 Meath 0-8

DOWN MAINTAINED their strong start to the new season when they won at Newry on Saturday to claim top spot in the Division Three table along with Donegal.

The home side led 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, after Meath had erased an early four-point deficit, created by Martin Clarke and Paul McComiskey. David Bray, Cian Ward and Jamie Queeney helped to get the visitors back in the hunt just before the interval.

In the third quarter, the hosts began to get on top of their opponents again and moved three points clear with a couple of excellent long-range efforts from midfielder Ambrose Rogers.

Meath’s full forward Queeney, who scored 1-1 from play in his previous outing, didn’t have as much effect in the second period after boss James McCartan moved wing back James Colgan in to shackle the big number 14.

Meath were also guilty of some poor shooting throughout the half, which allowed Down some breathing space and opportunities for Clarke and McComiskey to register insurance points towards the end, which helped the Mourne men deservedly pick up another two points.

DOWN: B McVeigh; D McCartan, B McArdle, D Rafferty; K McKernan, J Colgan, C Garvey; A Rodgers (0-2), K King; C Maginn (0-1), M Clarke (0-2, one free), D Hughes; P McComiskey (0-3, all frees), J Clarke (0-4), B Coulter. Subs: A Brannigan for McKernan (25 mins); C Laverty for Hughes (65); S Kearney for Maginn (68); P Fitzpatrick for King (70).

MEATH: P O’Rourke; N McKeigue, J Macken, E Harrington; C McGuinness, M Burke, G Reilly; N Crawford (0-1), M Ward (0-1); S Kenny, P Byrne, S Bray; D Bray (0-2), J Queeney, C Ward (0-4, two frees). Subs: C O’Connor for McKeigue (half-time); O Lewis for Kenny (46 mins); J Sheridan for Queeney, A Moyles for Crawford (both 66).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).