Meath conjured up a final quarter rally to claim a draw with DCU in this exciting O'Byrne Cup Group 3 clash at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday night and ensure a last four spot.

Meath   1-14  

DCU   1-14

Mick O'Dowd's men looked set to exit the O'Byrne Cup midway through the second-half after a third quarter surge seemed to give the wind-assisted students the edge in this examination of credentials.

The manner in which Meath maintained their interest in the competition heartened their vocal support and sets up a home semi-final meeting with Dublin next weekend.

Meath's finish was reminiscent of when Sean Boylan - who was part of the DCU management team - era. The Royals were 1-10 to 1-13 in arrears after 56 minutes before rallying with four scores on the spin to regain the lead.

Subs Bryan Menton and Nicky Judge got one each while Mark O'Sullivan completed their tally with his 5th pointed free of the game. DCU got the final score courtesy of Diarmaid O'Connor in the 68th minute, but the manner in which the home controlled matters in the final minutes ensured they advanced.

Playing towards the town goal Meath were on top in the opening half. With just under 2 minutes on the watch, Ciaran McConnell found David Bray behind the DCU rearguard and the O'Mahonys' man expertly slotted the leather to the net at the town end.

Niall Murphy pulled a point back for the Dublin-college side, before Conor McHugh sent over a 13-metre at the hospital end following an off-the-ball foul.

A late tackle on Andy Tormey out on the wing led to a free that Mark O'Sullivan sent over to leave it 1-1 to 0-2 after 12 minutes. By the 22nd minute Meath were four to the good with corner-back Donncha Tobin getting among the scorers.

When David Bray got his secord score of the evening it was 1-5 to 0-3 with 25 minutes elapsed. Of concern to the home side was that by this stage they posted six wides, double that of DCU.

Three scores on the spin saw DCU get within two points of Meath by the 30th minute. The pick of them was the final one a beautifully flighted effort from corner-back Davey Byrne. In the time remaining the home side increased their lead through Graham Reilly and Mark O'Sullivan (free) to lead by 1-7 to 0-6 after a wind assisted opening half.

Meath might have been further in front at the break but for registering eight wides. To compound matters they had to face the wind thereafter.

DCU resumed with a scoring surge that yielded 1-3 and saw them double their tally by the 43rd minute when Davey Byrne sent over his second excellent score and the nearby board read 1-9 to 1-7 to the student who had hit the front for the first time moments earlier.

That flurry of scores for DCU included a pointed free harshlly awarded against Mickey Burke for allegedly throwing the ball while the free was subsequently brought forward for dissent.

Niall Moyna's men looked set for a semi spot until the home side's rally yielded the required result.

Scorers: Meath - David Bray 1-2, Mark O'Sullivan 0-5 (fs), Graham Reilly 0-3, Bryan Menton, Nicky Judge, Donncha Tobin, Joey Wallace 0-1 each.
DCU - Conor McHugh 0-7 (5fs), Conor McGraynor 1-0, Davy Byrne 0-2, Niall Murphy 0-1, Donal Smith, Tom Flynn, Diarmaid O'Connor, Eoin O'Connor 0-1 each.

Meath - Patrick O'Rourke; Donncha Tobin, Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; Ciaran McConnell, Donal Keogan (C), Shane Melia; Harry Rooney, Adam Flanagan; Graham Reilly, Mark O'Sullivan, Andy Tormey; Damien Carroll, David Bray, Joey Wallace. Subs - Nicky Judge for Melia (ht), Bryan Menton for Rooney (ht), Seamus Mattimoe for Carroll (ht), Jamie Queeney for Bray (56), Simon Carty for McConnell (62), Ruairi O'Dowd for O'Sullivan (69).

DCU - Ryan O'Flaherty (Dublin); Jack Smith (Dublin), Donal Wrynn (Leitrim), Davey Byrne (Dublin); Johnathan Bealin (Dublin), Conor Moynagh (Cavan), Colm Begley (Laois); Tom Flynn (Galway), Eoin O'Connor (Louth); Enda Smith (Roscommon), Conor Meredith (Laois), Diarmuid O'Connor (Mayo); Conor McHugh (Dublin), Niall Murphy (Sligo), Donal Smith (Roscommon). Subs - Conor McGraynor for D Smith (ht), Rory Connor for Murphy (54), Conor Daly for Connor (54 bc), Brian Donnelly for Flynn (69).

Referee - Stephen Johnson (Louth)

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