Down v Meath Prediction, Preview & Odds – Tailteann Cup Final 2023

We have a Down v Meath prediction for you plus all the betting odds ahead of their Tailteann Cup Final this Saturday evening.

How To Watch Down v Meath

When? 3pm, Saturday, July 15th

Where? Croke Park, Dublin

TV Channel: RTÉ 2

Down v Meath Preview

Down’s Form

League Form

Down played their football in Division 3 of the National Leagues this year and narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 2 through points difference. Despite this, it was a very promising league campaign for Down as they won 5 of their 7 games which gave them something to build upon going into the Championship.

Championship Form

The Mourne men were drawn in the first round of the Ulster Championship against Donegal who played their football in Division 1 this year. Donegal had been terrible in the National League so there was a live chance of an upset on the cards. And Down would go on to pull off that upset with a 2-13 to 1-11 win over this dysfunctional Donegal side.

Next up was a meeting with another Division 1 team in Armagh. This proved to be a step too far for Down as they would lose to Armagh on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-12. That loss along with their status as a Division 3 side meant they would compete in this year’s Tailteann Cup.

Path To The Tailteann Cup Final

Group 2

Down 2-14 Waterford 1-06 | Round 1

Down 2-18 Tipperary 0-06 | Round 2

Meath 1-11 Down 1-09 | Round 3

Preliminary Quarter-Final

Down 1-20 Longford 1-12

Quarter-Final

Cavan 0-15 Down 0-17

Semi-Final

Down 8-16 Laois 2-12

So, How’s The Form?

Down have really hit the ground running in recent weeks. They have timed their run perfectly and their form has been progressive, every time we’ve seen them since that defeat to Meath in the group stage, they’ve looked like a better team than the game before.

Confidence will be sky high in their camp having run riot against Laois in Croke Park only a couple weeks ago to book their spot in this final.

Meath’s Form

League Form

Meath competed in Division 2 of the National Leagues this year and did just enough to retain their status in Ireland’s second division. The Royal County were only able to muster two wins from their seven games with four defeats and one draw.

Championship Form

Meath had a short run in this year’s Championship. Their first outing came against Offaly in the first round of the Leinster Championship and the Royal County never really showed up as they fell to a 1-11 to 0-10 defeat. That result along with their league positioning saw them drop to the Tailteann Cup.

Path To The Tailteann Cup Final

Group 2

Meath 1-19 Tipperary 0-11 | Round 1

Waterford 1-14 Meath 3-17 | Round 2

Meath 1-11 Down 1-09 | Round 3

Quarter-Final

Meath 2-23 Wexford 0-12

Semi-Final

Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14

So, How’s The Form?

Meath started out the year very poorly after a disappointing league campaign was compounded by being dumped out of the Leinster Championship at the first stage. However, ever since then they have looked like a completely different team with a perfect record of five wins from five games played in this competition.

Meath’s run in this year’s Tailteann Cup shows the value of this competition and how it can completely change the mood around a county’s future prospects. Like Down, this team will be full of confidence and will also know that they got the better of this Down team earlier in this competition.

Down v Meath Head-To-Head Results

Meath 1-11 Down 1-09 | Tailteann Cup Group Stage 2023

Meath 2-06 Down 2-06 | 2022 National League Division 2

Down 0-14 Meath 2-15 | 2021 National League Division 2

These teams are familiar with each other having met three times in the past three years. Meath have had the better of these recent meetings with 2 wins from those three games including a win earlier in this year’s Tailteann Cup.

Down v Meath Betting Odds

Down – 1/2

Meath – 9/4

The Draw – 15/2

Handicap: Down -3 @ Evens

Down go into this game as the clear favourites at odds of 1/2 ahead of this second ever Tailteann Cup final. Meath’s odds of 9/4 mean they are underdogs that could reward punters a pretty penny if they can come out on top.

Down v Meath Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: Down 2-14 Meath 1-18

I’m predicting Meath to pull off the upset here and beat Down for the second time in this year’s Tailteann Cup. I expect this game to be close right down to the final whistle.

Best Bet: Both teams to score a goal & Meath win @ 4/1

Click Below For All Our Down v Meath Tailteann Cup Final Odds

*Prices subject to fluctuation

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