Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-2 Meath 0-1
Ryan Johnston hits his first of the day with a shot from 40 meters.
Brilliant point!
Summary
Tailteann Cup final result: Down 0-14 Meath 2-13 - Royals secure spot in 2024 All-Ireland series
All-Ireland semi-final result: Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13 - Dubs reach first decider since 2020
Holders Kerry face Derry in Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final - watch live on BBC Sport
Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Postpublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-1 Meath 0-1
Ryan Mason misses an opportunity to give Down the lead.
Aaron Lynch also sends one wide for Meath.
Postpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-1 Meath 0-1
Mathew Costello converts the free from range.
We are level again.
Postpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-1 Meath 0-0
It's now Meath's turn to build on the attack.
They're enjoying some possession in the middle of the park and they win a free in.
Croke Park looks about 10% fullpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-1 Meath 0-0
John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke ParkNot too many yet in their seats at headquarters as the Tailteann Cup final throws in. I reckon we're about 10% full. The Dubs fans are notoriously late arrivals for games as there are many fine local hostelries to be visited pre-match. Thankfully those that are here are keeping dry at the moment as the rain is holding off.
Postpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-1 Meath 0-0
Ceilum Doherty opens the scoring with a fine shot from play.
Great start by Down.
Postpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-0 Meath 0-0
Both teams look well up for it.
Down are starting to build pressure on the attack.
Throw-inpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down 0-0 Meath 0-0
Here we go!
There's a trophy and a place in next year's All-Ireland series on the line.
Who will take it?
Image source, InphoImage caption, The Tailteann Cup
Team news - Down unchanged, Royals make three late changespublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down v Meath (15:00 BST)
It comes as no surprise that Down boss Conor Laverty has stuck with the side that hammered Laois in the semi-final.
In-form Liam Kerr retains his place following an impressive 3-2 tally in that game.
Meath boss Colm O’Rourke makes a few late changes to the starting team.
Ciaran Caulfield, Cathal Hickey and Jack Flynn come in.
Harry O’Higgins, Daithí McGowan and Jack O’Connor are out.
Down: Niall Kane; Patrick McCarthy, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty; Miceal Rooney, Ceilum Doherty, Daniel Magill; Daniel Guinness, Odhran Murdock; Shealan Johnston, Liam Kerr, Rory Mason; Eugene Branagan, Pat Havern, Ryan Johnston.
Subs: John O'Hare, Shane Annett, Ryan McEvoy, Ross Carr, Patrick Branagan, Donach McAleenan, Gerard Collins, Andrew Gilmore, Conor Poland, Peter Fegan, Ryan Magill.
Meath: Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Ciaran Caulfield; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Ronan Jones, Conor Gray; Cathal Hickey, James McEntee, Jack Flynn; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch.
Subs: Harry Hogan, Harry O'Higgins, Daithi McGowan, Cillian O'Sullivan, Jack O'Connor, Jack Flynn, Eoghan Frayne, Michael Flood, Donal Lenihan, Diarmuid Moriarty, Keith Curtis, Ben Wyer.
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, Down v Meath
The Mournemen have arrived!published at 14:53 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down v Meath (15:00 BST)
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Odhran Murdock, left, and Eugene Branagan of Down before the Tailteann Cup Final
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Down players walk the pitch before the Tailteann Cup Final
It's going to be a wet onepublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down v Meath (15:00 BST)
Down and Meath fans arrive to a very wet Croke Park but spirits are still high, it is a cup final after all!
Image source, InphoImage caption, Meath fans arrive for the game
Image source, InphoImage caption, Fans shelter from the rain ahead of the game
Image source, InphoImage caption, Meath fans arrive for the game
Down fans finding their way to Croke Parkpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down v Meath (15:00 BST)
John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke ParkIt didn't appear quite an exodus from the Mournes but there were plenty of Down colours fluttering from car windows on the M1 on the trip south. It was no easy drive with the wipers having to be at full pelt for much of the journey amid heavy rain. The feet got a bit wet too on the walk from the wagon to Croke Park as the heavens continued to teem but thankfully the rain has finally stopped although according to the BBC weather forecast, which of course is never ever wrong, there is a 90% chance of more wet stuff by the time the Tailteann Cup final throws in.
Image source, InphoImage caption, Sean and Peter Ryan brothers from Rostrevor, Co. Down ahead of the game
The GAA Social - Dion Dublin's introduction to the world of GAApublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Dion Dublin and the GAA. Manchester United, the inner Roy Keane, the real Alex Ferguson and Who will win Sam Maguire?
Listen to the GAA Social on BBC Sounds.
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, The GAA Social with Dion Dublin
Clarke tells Down to 'grab golden ticket'published at 14:41 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down v Meath (15:00 BST)
Image source, InphoImage caption, Meath edged out Down in the Tailteann Cup group-stages contest between the sides at Parnell Park last month
Down assistant boss Marty Clarke says the "golden ticket" of a guaranteed place in next year's Sam Maguire Cup will be a "huge prize" in Saturday's Tailteann Cup Final against Meath.
"It would be massive for us to be in there next year," said Clarke.
"We've made no apologies, we wanted to play in the Sam Maguire this year and we failed in the two chances that we had so it's a huge, huge prize."
Clarke added: "We're still a work in progress.
"There's plenty of things that we would have felt that we didn't get right as a management team and Conor will be the first to admit that."
Down face Meath in Tailteann Cup deciderpublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 15 July 2023
Down v Meath (15:00 BST)
Good afternoon!
It’s that time again. We’re down to the last four in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
But before the semi-finalists take centre stage at Croke Park, we have a Tailteann Cup final to settle.
It’s Down vs Meath.
The two counties are hungry to end major trophy droughts that span all the way back to the 90s.
Down are chasing their first piece of major senior football silverware since their 1994 All-Ireland win against Dublin.
Meath - who Down beat in the 1991 All-Ireland final - are hoping to claim their first major title since their Sam Maguire triumph in 1999.
The winner of today’s final will not only end the wait for silverware - they will also guarantee themselves a spot in the group stages of next year’s All-Ireland series.
It's going to be a busy day so thanks for joining us!
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, Tailteann Cup Final - Down v Meath