TEAM NEWS : Youngs guns to be given Kehoe Cup chance

Johnny Greville’s Meath hurlers get their 2026 season underway this weekend when they face Down in round two of the Kehoe Cup on Sunday at Dunganny.

A fresh-looking Royals side will line out this weekend as the Westmeath native attempts to rebuild his squad following a poor overall display in 2025.

Expectations were high for the Royals’ Christy Ring Cup campaign last year but disappointing defeats to London, Wicklow and Donegal saw Meath finish fifth of six teams in the third-tier hurling championship.

Ironically one of Meath's best showings of the last 12 months came against their opposition this weekend.

After the original fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, the deferred 2025 NHL Div 2A clash was the last time Meath and Down met and that day the Royals kept their promotion hopes alive with a three-point win. The caveat to that result was that Down had already qualified for the league final.

In the grand scheme of things, Sunday’s contest will not make or break Meath’s season but it will be an important milestone as he attempts to introduce some fresh blood into the squad following rumours of high-profile departures from the set-up.

Several of the more well known Meath hurlers have been given extra time off following their exertions in the club championships, while Ratoath's prolonged run to the Leinster Club IHC final means their representation haven't returned to the county fold yet.

Greville will not have his full complement on Sunday and a few players who have not yet returned will more than likely come back into the frame in the coming weeks. This weekend's game is an opportunity for several young players to enter into the equation for League and Christy Ring Cup plans and performance rather than result will be at the forefront of Greville’s mind.

MEATH STARTING 15 (v Down) - Philip O'Brien (St Patrick's); Conor Leavy (Dunderry), Daire Shine (Kilskyre/Moylagh), Jarlath Ennis (Rathmolyon); Darragh Heffernan (Trim), Simon Ennis (Rathmolyon), Kyle Donnelly (Kilmessan); Joey Cole (Trim), Tom Shine (Kilskyre/Moylagh); Lorcan Byrne (Kilmessan), Mikey Cole (Trim) Eoin Donegan (Wolfe Tones); Darren O'Higgins (Kilskyre/Moylagh), Seán Doyle (Kilmessan), Mark Leavy (Dunderry).