Meath proved too good for Armagh in this Allianz National Football League Division 2 opener at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Meath ............ 1-10
Armagh .......... 0-8

Six unanswered second-half points secured the spoils for Mick O'Dowd's men at the expense of the promoted visitors.

Sporting a traditional shade of green, Meath outlasted a limited Armagh who posted half of their tally in the opening 11 minutes.

Taking better options might have seen Meath win by a wider margin, though the blustery wind made matters difficult for both sides.

Meath lined out without the talismanic Graham Reilly injured in the O'Byrne Cup final the previous Sunday.

Despite being backed by the elements it took Meath until the sixth second-half minute to get off the mark after the break, courtesy of top scorer Michael Newman (free).

That levelled matters for the fourth and final time. Newman regained the lead for Meath two minutes later, from a long range free. Sean Tobin crowned an industrious cameo with three pointed frees in the latter stages.

Armagh lost team captain Aidan Forker to a second yellow card, in the 60th minute. Earlier in the half the wing-back saw a point attempt rebound off an upright.

Team captain Donal Keogan was Meath's outstanding player and capped the occasion with a 50th minute point, that left it 1-8 to 0-8

Wind-assisted Armagh took the game to Meath from the off and by half-time had six different scorers. The Orchard County men posted three points in the opening five minutes with Gavin McParland, Colm Watters and Stefan Campbell registering.

Meath stemmed the tangerine tide with a brace of important scores. Cillian O'Sullivan got Meath off the mark with assistance from Brian Power six minutes in.

The Royals' stock rose when Michael Newman posted a brlliant solo goal to put Meath in front for the first time, 1-1 to 0-3, in the ninth minute. Moments later O'Sullivan doubled Meath's lead with his second point.

The first of two Ethan Rafferty points leveled matters for the first time in the 11th minute. Donal Lenihan's assist allowed Newman restore Meath's lead. The scoring rate dropped in the second quarter.

Rafferty passed up a great goal chance for Armagh in the 19th minute when shooting low and wide. McParland's second score tied matters for the second time, in the 20th minute. Stefan Forker became the visitors' sixth scorer shortly after.

Mickey Newman levelled matters for the third time when landing the first score from a free in the 30th minute. Moments later a Miceal McKenna point earned Armagh a minimum margin, 0-8 to 1-4, interval advantage.

Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Donal Keogan (C) (0-1), Conor McGill, Mickey Burke; Darragh Smyth, Padraic Harnan, Cathal Finn; Harry Rooney, Brian Power; James McEntee, Cillian O'Sullivan (0-2), Andrew Tormey; Bryan McMahon, Michael Newman (1-4, 0-3fs), Donal Lenihan. Subs - Sean Tobin (0-3 fs) for Lenihan (41), Conor Downey for McMahon (52), Ruairi O Coileain for Smyth (66), Alan Douglas for Finn (70).

Armagh - Matthew McNeice; Ruairi McCaughey, Charlie Vernon, Mark Shields; Shea Heffron, Brendan Donaghy, Aidan Forker (C); Stephen Sheridan, Ethan Rafferty (0-1); Stefan Campell (0-1), Miceal McKenna (0-2), Stefan Forker (0-1); Gavin McParland (0-2), Ciaran O'Hanlon, Colm Watters (0-1). Subs - Aaron Findon for Sheridan (ht), Eugene McVerry for McParland (ht), Sean Connell for Donaghy (52), Niall McConville for Watters (56), Niall Grimley for McKenna (70 bc)

Referee - Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

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