Brave Derry fall just short of epic comeback in thrilling Christy Ring final at Croke Park

Christy Ring Cup final

Derry 1-21

Meath 1-23

Derry’s wait for their elusive first Christy Ring title goes on after their gallant comeback wasn’t enough in Saturday’s decider at Croke Park with Meath’s 1-23 to 1-21 win seeing the Royals take home the cup for the third time.

It was the shootout between Derry captain Cormac O'Doherty with 1-14 and James Regan who hit 14 points for the winners.

Meath were seven points clear before Sean Kelly’s opening score for Derry in the 12 minute before he limped out of action.

Derry did rally with scores from O’Doherty but Meath were 10 points ahead at the break, 0-17 to 0-7.

Cormac O’Doherty opened the scoring with a free but Meath hit the net minutes later. A long Ennis puck-out found Potteron behind midfield who surged through before hitting the net to open a 1-17 to 0-8 lead after 38 minutes.

Derry battled well, but Meath pushed into a 1-20 to 0-10 lead by the 45th minute before Derry’s purple patch of 1-5 without reply.

O’Doherty hit two frees before hitting the net with a close-range free in the 52nd minute to cut the gap to 1-20 to 1-12.

Derry had Sean Cassidy sent off in the latter stages and they kept piling on the pressure, but a late Regan free put the Royals two ahead.

There was one last chance but with Derry needing a goal, O’Doherty dropped the ball in before Meath cleared their lines to the sound of the final whistle.

Teams and Scorers

Derry: Oisin O’Doherty; Sean Francis Quinn, Mark Craig, Paddy Kelly; Richie Mullan; Sean Cassidy, James Friel; Cormac O’Doherty (1-14f), Meehaul McGrath; Eamon Conway, Corey O’Reilly (0-2), Darragh McGilligan; Sean Kelly (0-1), John Mullan (0-2), Paul Cleary
Subs: Segdae Melaugh (0-1) for S Kelly (INJ 13), Eoghan Cassidy for E Conway (32), Pádhraig Nelis (0-1) for P Cleary (48), Callum O’Kane for D McGilligan (60),

Yellow cards: S Cassidy (10, 62), M McGrath (30)
Red card: S Cassidy (62)

Meath: Charlie Ennis; Michael Burke, Shane Brennan, Brendan McKeon; James Toher; Niall McLarnon, Seán Geraghty (0-1), Simon Ennis (0-1); Pa Ryan (0-1), Martin Healy (0-1); Éamon Ó Donnchadha (0-3), James Kelly (0-1); Stephen Morris, Jack Regan (0-14, 11f), Nicholas Potterton (1-1)
Subs: Gerard Dwane for S Geraghty (blood sub 11, reversed 21), Adam Gannon for S Morris (HT), Gerard Dwane for P Ryan (52), Pádraig O’Hanrahan for S Brennan (52), Mark O’Sullivan for J Kelly (64), James Murray for É Ó Donnchadha (67)

Yellow card: S Brennan (49)

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)