Conor Corvan's stoppage time goal earned a dramatic NHL Division 2B win for Armagh over Meath at Trim on Sunday.

Armagh    1-17
Meath    1-15

Armagh's second win of the campaign maintains their bid to reach the divisional final while Meath face an uphill task against Down next Sunday.

Meath seemed to have grabbed a sensational win themselves moments before the game's decisive score when sub Michael Dunne netted in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The prolonged period of added time was warranted following a blood injury incurred accidentally by Stephen Morris. The Blackhall Gaels man was able to walk off before being replaced by Karl Ennis.

The Royals finished with 13 players losing top scorer Jack Regan and midfielder Eoin Marsh to two yellow cards. Both sendings-off occurred after the break.

Regan was dismissed in the 42nd minute moments after posting his eighth point of the game. Marsh picked up his second yellow card in the 70th minute.

Armagh had nine scorers to Meath's six. The eventual winners were more economical, posting six wides to Meath's 14.

Despite numerical deficiency, Meath hung on to the end. Gary Kelly was denied a goal in the 44th minute by Armagh 'keeper Simon Doherty.

When Willie McGrath posted his sole score, Meath led by 0-13 to 0-10 after 54 minutes.

Numerical advantage and the assistance of the breeze on an overcast afternoon gave Armagh the edge in the final quarter.

It wasn't until the 64th minute when Ryan Gaffney landed a long range free that Armagh regained parity, 0-14-each. Seconds later Martin Moan notched the next score to see the visitors hit the front for the first time.

Unusually for this venue, the wind was blowing from the town end. Meath were backed by it in the opening 35 minutes.

Within 15 minutes of the off Meath were 0-5 to 0-1 clear. Two Eoin Marsh efforts from play were the highlights of that sequence.

Corner forward Jack Regan was Meath main scorer in the opening half. The Kiltale man chalked up seven points (four frees). His final score of the half, a stoppage time free from about 66 metres, earned the home side a 0-10 to 0-9 interval advantage.

An excellent Regan effort from play left Meath 0-7 to 0-3 to the good midway through the first half. His next score left the biggest gap between the sides in the first half.

Meath might have goaled in the 20th minute but Eoin Marsh's effort was stopped by Armagh 'keeper Simon Doherty.

Conor Corvan and Martin Moan were to the fore as Armagh rallied in the run up to half-time.

Meath posted seven first-half wides to Armagh's one. The scores were tied for the first time when Shea Gaffney, with assistance from Eoin McGuinness, pointed to leave it 0-9 to 0-9 after 32 minutes.

Meath's final round robin fixture is at home to Down next Sunday when Armagh travel to Castlebar as the battle for second spot in the group goes down to the final series of  matches.

Armagh - Simon Doherty; Tiarnan Nevin, Ciaran Clifford, Conor McKee (0-2 fs); Stephen Reneghan, Nathan Curry, Pauric Hughes; Kieran McKernan (C) (0-1), Shea Gaffney (0-1); Conor Corvan (1-1), Eoin McGuinness (0-1), Cahal Carville (0-2); Martin Moan (0-3), Ryan Gaffney (0-4 fs), David Carville. Subs - Caily Gorman (0-2) for McGuinness (50), Peter McKearney for  Gaffney (64), Paddy Kelly for Carville (69).

Meath - Charlie Bird; Cormac Reilly, Shane Brennan, Neill McLoughlin; Keith Keoghan, Damien Healy (C), Shane Whitty; Eoin Marsh (0-2), James Toher (0-1); Stephen Morris, Gary Kelly, Alan Douglas; Jack Regan (0-8, 5fs), Padraig Keogh, Willie McGrath (0-1). Subs - Darren Reilly (0-2, 1f 165) for Kelly (50), Michael Dunne (1-1) for Keogh (50), Karl Ennis for Morris bs 70).

Referee - David Hughes (Carlow)

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