Five points from substitute Nicky Horan kept Meath well in control in the second half and the sides finished with fourteen players each after Eoin Brislane picked up a second yellow card in the closing stages.

WIND-ASSISTED KILDARE BLOW DERRY TO BITS Derry couldn't overcome the handicap of a strong first-half wind at Celtic Park yesterday and the lead Kildare built up before the break allowed them the breathing space to run out winners by 2-21 to 0-13. After an early, long range point from Tony Spain, the followed a procession of Kildare scores, Billy White finishing the half with 1-5.

Trailing 1-10 to 0-4 at half time Derry started the second half with a point from Gareth O'Kane - who finished with 0-8 to his name - but thereafter Kildare dominated, Spain and Oisin Lynch leading the way with two points each.

In the 56th minute Tony Murphy scored the second Kildare goal, Derry's woes complete when Kevin Himphey was red carded after two yellows.

DOWN POWER THROUGH IN SECOND-HALF SHOW A brilliant second half in which they scored 1-12 saw Down overcome a stubborn Mayo side in this Christy Ring Cup in McKenna Park, Ballycran yesterday, eventually running out 2-19 to 2-11 winners. A very strong breeze blowing right down the pitch made this a game of two halves with the standard of hurling never reaching a very high standard.

Mayo, assisted by the breeze in the first period, were slow to start while Down lobbed over three points in the opening five minutes. It was the tenth minute before Paul Broderick scored Mayo's first score when he took a pass from brother Stephen to send to the Down net. This score saw Mayo produce some brilliant hurling with Adrian Freeman lobbing over five points from frees as they raced into a 1-9 to 0-4 lead. Down finished the half with a goal from Paddy Coulter and three points from Garreth Johnson to leave half time Mayo 1-9 Down 1-7.

Down played their best hurling in the second half and although Stephen Broderick scored a Mayo point it was a minute from time before their next score arrived when Kevin Healy found the Down net. In between Down were in complete control with Brendan McGourty scoring a goal and four points while full backs Stephen Murray and Fintan Conway also got into the act with Simon Wilson lobbing over four points as Down finished with a deserved victory.

WEXFORD WITHSTAND LATE KILKENNY RALLY Wexford's unbeaten run in the Senior Camogie Championship continued yesterday in New Ross as the homeside withstood a late Kilkenny comeback to finish 1-20 to 4-5 winners over an Ann Downey-trained Kilkenny side.

A wind assisted Kilkenny led by 2-5 to 1-7 at the interval thanks to two M�ire O'Connor goals but Wexford staged a point scoring spree in the second half with Ursula Jacob in fine form.

TEAMS AND SCORERS, PAGE 24