Complacency the big danger

SATURDAY proved to be a good day for Meath footballers. It was also productive for the county hurlers, although they didn't have to strike a ball in anger.

Kerry's 2-21 to 2-11 victory over Down inched Meath ever closer to securing a place in the semi-finals of the Christy Ring Cup. The result ended Down's hopes of securing a coveted place in the knock-out stages, and eliminated one of the sides fancied to go through before the start.

John Andrews and his team will make the long trek up to Ballycran looking for the victory that will copperfasten their place in the last four.

Andrews has stated that he doesn't want to rely on any other results to achieve that particular ambition and he has the consolation that his team are almost certainly through.

Even if Meath lose against Down they are likely to get through as Westmeath play Kerry on the same day.

The Kingdom could leapfrog both Meath and Westmeath if they win yet that scenario has to be considered highly unlikely. Westmeath look too strong to be caught offside.

Cleary demoralised since their whopping defeat to Antrim in a farcical Ulster final, Down have had little joy in the Ring Cup, with their only victory from three outings so far achieved against Mayo, the whipping boys of the group.

Even in that game the Ulster side proved to be less than convincing as they had to work hard to overcome Mayo on a 2-19 to 2-11 scoreline.

Wisely Andrews has said that he and his players will not be laboured down with any sense of complacency when they head north.

Meath have come a cropper all too often in the past in outposts such as Ballycran to indulge in any fanciful notions that they can win this game without a good deal of sweat and toil. Down clearly have their problems. They also have their pride and they will not want to concede a game even if a victory is academic for them.

Three years ago the elements even appeared to be against the Meath hurlers when they made the arduous trip to Strangford for the NHL game in Portaferry.

Fog prevented the travelling party from making the trip on the lough and after been forced to wait around for a few hours the exhibition had to be abandoned. The refixed game was never played as Meath did not travel.

The counties have met twice in the Christy Ring Cup in the last two years and on each occasion it was Down who prevailed. The Mourne men visited Pairc Tailteann in 2006 and returned home with a 3-16 to 1-14 victory.

Last year it was the turn of Meath to make the return journey, travelling all the way to Ballycran and once again the Ulster side prevailed, 2-15 to 0-11.

As those results indicate Meath hurling has passed through some spells of turbulence in recent years. The team is now experiencing much calmer waters and for the first time in ages a Royal County outfit will travel north with real prospects of achieving victory.

One of the most startling aspects from that game against Down in 2005 was the way in which Meath struggled to get anything from open play with most of their scores coming from placed balls.

That hasn't been the case in recent outings as the attack has started to move with real menace while the defence has managed to snuff out danger.

Meath's combined total of 6-56 racked up in the draw with Westmeath and victories over Kerry and Mayo makes for impressive reading.

Ger O'Neill and Stephen Clynch are just two forwards who have started to enjoy themselves again in the green and gold.

Against Westmeath and Mayo all six of the starting Meath forwards got on the scoreboard while in the clash with the Kingdom, five of the six starting forwards made a contribution.

Eoin Brislane has brought considerable vision and experience to the side. At the back Enda Fitzgerald has established himself as a strong presence in front of the square and the half-back line of Charlie Keena, David Donnelly and Enda Keogh has a formidable look about it.

They will be severely tested on Saturday although Down had to do without two of their best players, Gareth Johnson and Brendan McGourley, for the game against Kerry. Both players were injured in the win over Mayo. They might not have enough time to recover before next weekend.

Meath will need all the help they can get. One encouraging aspect for Down is that they gave Westmeath a stiff challenge only losing by a point, 1-15 to 2-13.

If Andrews and his men have only a point to spare on Saturday they will be more than happy.