PREMIER JUNIOR FINAL Meath 1-11 Down 1-9:DOWN SUFFERED the heartbreak of defeat in the All-Ireland premier junior camogie final for the second time in 12 months, as Meath just held the upper hand at Croke Park.

Down did very well to stay in contention after conceding a third-minute goal to player of the match Sinéad Hackett, who bundled in the sliotar.

Meath put the foot down to open up a four-point gap courtesy of scores from Aileen Donnelly, Hackett, and a Jane Dolan free.

Down hit back with their own run of three points, kick-started by Sara-Louise Carr.

It was 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time, but Carr ended another strong run from the left by crashing a powerful shot home five minutes after the resumption to put Down ahead.

Meath took over around the middle though and landed five of the next six points to open up a three-point advantage.

Nicola Braniff and 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.

MEATH: E Mangan; H Geraghty, C Coffey, F O'Neill; L Donoghue, A Thompson, A Keogh; AM Fagan, K Troy (0-1); E Guy, J Dolan (0-3, 2f), A Donnelly (0-3); A Maguire (0-1), S Hackett (1-2), K Hackett. Subs: L Oakes (0-1) 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 (1-2), F Carr (0-6, 5f, 1 45); N Mallon, L Hughes, C McGourty. Subs: K McMullan for Mallon (21), O Maginn for McNally (30), K O'Higgins for Hughes (44), N Braniff (0-1) for McPolin (57).

Referee: R McNicholas(Galway).