Meath 1-11
Down 1-9
Down suffered the heartbreak of defeat in the All-Ireland premier junior camogie final in association with RTÉ Sport for the second time in 12 months, as Meath just held the upper hand at Croke Park.
John Davis’s charges were deserved winners but had to dig deep to overcome a resolute opposition driven on by the memory of last year’s narrow loss to Waterford.
Down did very well to keep themselves in contention after conceding a third minute goal to player of the match Sinéad Hackett, who bundled the sliotar over the line after a Jane Dolan free had dropped short.
Fionnuala Carr had opened the scoring for the Mourne girls with a free from 70m, having been fouled after catching Caitriona McCrickard’s puckout.
Her sister, Sara-Louise Carr responded to the goal with a good score but Meath put the foot down to open up a four-point gap courtesy of scores from Aileen Donnelly, Hackett’s brilliant effort over her right shoulder, and a Dolan free.
Down showed their character though when hitting back with their own run of three points, kick-started by Sara-Louise Carr. She finished well after a 25m dash and Fionnuala landed points from a 45 and free to reduce the margin to the minimum.
The 45 came as a result of a deflection on a Catherine McGourty ground shot that seemed destined for the Meath net but the Royals had a similar opportunity soon afterwards, when Donnelly doubled on a breaking ball but sent the sliotar just wide.
It was 1-5 to 0-6 at half time but Sara-Louise Carr ended another strong run from the left by crashing a powerful shot beyond Emily Mangan five minutes after the resumption to put Down ahead.
She had another opportunity soon afterwards, after collecting a pass from the strong-running Karen McMullan but Claire Coffey made a splendid block.
Another goal then would have put Down in the box seat but instead, Aoife Maguire pointed almost immediately at the other end – in truth it was a tremendous goal chance – and with Dolan, Donnelly, Lizzy Oakes and Hackett also raising white flags, Meath were in control.
Nicola Braniff and Fionnuala Carr reduced the margin to the minimum with two minutes of injury time still remaining but it was Dolan who had the last word from a placed ball.
Irish Daily Star Player of the Match; Sinead Hackett
All Ireland Junior Camogie Final Video
All Ireland Junior Final Interviews
Scorers – Meath: S Hackett 1-2; A Donnelly, J Dolan 0-3(2fs) each; K Troy, A Maguire, L Oakes 0-1 each
Down: F Carr 0-6(5fs, 1 45); SL Carr 1-2; N Braniff 0-1
Meath: E Mangan; H Geraghty, C Coffey, F O’Neill; L Donoghue, A Thompson, A Keogh; AM Fagan, K Troy; E Guy, J Dolan, A Donnelly; A Maguire, S Hackett, K Hackett. Subs: L Oakes for Guy (37); E Lynch for Maguire (53)
Down: C McCrickard; K Tinnelly, G O’Higgins, C McGovern; C Rocks, L McCrickard, E McCormick; P Gribben, M McNally; L McPolin, SL Carr, F Carr; N Mallon, L Hughes, C McGourty. Subs: K McMullan for Mallon inj (21); O Maginn for McNally (30+1); K O’Higgins for Hughes (44); N Braniff for McPolin (57)
Referee: R McNicholas (Galway)
