Down 0-14 Meath 1-11 A point with the last kick of the game three minutes into injury-time from the impressive Liam Doyle gave the Ulster side a deserved victory in their exciting Division One B encounter with Meath at Newcastle yesterday.

Star for Down was right half-forward Doyle who claimed six points while Declan Sheerin, making his debut in the middle of the field, also impressed as did full forward Dan Gordon and half-forward Patrick Pearse McCartan.

In the Down defence, Brian Burns was a commanding figure at full back, though he was greatly assisted by corner back Brendan Grant, as well as half-backs Alan Molloy and Martin Cole.

The sides were level 0-3 each midway through the first half before Paddy Reynolds hit Meath's goal.

Dan Gordon kept Down in touch with two points before Evan Kelly, Trevor Giles and Hank Traynor put the Royals 1-6 to 0-5 up at half-time.

Fifteen minutes from time, Meath's Charles McCarthy was sent off but when Gregory McCartan chipped a penalty wide it looked curtains for Down.

However, they refused to give up and frees from Doyle and McCartan levelled the game before Doyle slotted over the winner.

DOWN: M McVeigh; J Clarke, B Burns, B Grant; J Lavery, A Molloy, M Cole; G McCartan (0-2), D Sheerin; L Doyle (0-6), M Walsh (0-1), PP McCartan (0-2); D Rooney, D Gordon (0-3), S Ward. Subs: C McCrickard for Sheerin; R Murtagh for Ward; J McCartan for Rooney; G McMahon for Walsh; S Mulholland for Lavery.

MEATH: D Gallagher; M O'Reilly, S McGowan, N McKeague; P Reynolds (1-0), D Fay, E Kelly (0-2); C McCarthy (0-1), N Nestor (0-1); D Curtis (0-1), T Giles (0-2), R Kealy; H Traynor (0-1), D Crimmons (0-1), O Murphy (0-2). Subs: J Cullinane for Nestor, A Kenny for E Kelly, N Kelly for McGowan.

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).