Meath are Christy Ring Cup champions (again) after an incredible 4-21 to 5-17 victory over Antrim after extra time at Croke Park.

Martin Ennis' warriors thought they had won the title and promotion for the first time three weeks ago only to be asked to replay the match once it emerged that there had been an error from the referee with the final score that day. Now they get to celebrate the win all over again!

This was a truly astonishing contest. The losers led by two points with extra time almost up but the Royals had points from substitute Stephen Clynch and captain James Toher - his twelfth! - before the former clipped over a late, late winner.

Antrim opened and closed the first half with goals from Ciaran Clarke and Conor Johnston respectively to assume a commanding 2-8 to 0-6 interval lead.

The Glensmen made a dream start when Clarke ran through the Meath defence to plant the ball in their net in the third minute and Clarke also added his team's second point to edge them five ahead, 1-2 to no score.

A quartet of converted Toher frees settled the Royals into the game but Eoghan Campbell got Antrim back on the scoreboard, 1-3 to 0-4, while Niall McKenna and Conor Johnston were on target as the Saffrons moved five ahead with ten minutes left before the break.

An exchange of frees between Toher and Clarke left the northerners ahead by double scores after 32 minutes, 1-7 to 0-5, and Sean McAfee had his point cancelled out by Stepehen Morris only for Johnston to strike an injury-time major for his side to lead by eight at the short whistle.

Adam Gannon pointed either side of a Neil Heffernan major as the Royals made a splendid start to the second half and further points from Joey Keena and Toher (free) had the deficit back to the minimum within five minutes of the restart, 2-8 to 1-10.

McKenna and half-time substitute Clynch exchanged scores before another Toher free had the Leinster county level. Astonishingly, they moved ahead when Heffernan bagged his second goal 15 minutes from time.

The Glensmen fought back and McKenna's goal three minutes from time propelled them back into a two-point lead, 3-12 to 2-13. But, there was a further twist as the Royal County replied instantly with their third goal from Clynch!

Toher's injury-time free doubled the difference and Clarke opted to go for goal from a last-gasp Antrim free, which was deflected wide. Meath tagged on yet another point deep into added time and, remarkably, there was absolutely unbelievable drama in Croker as Darren Hamill registered a match-salvaging fourth Antrim goal to force extra time - 4-12 to 3-15.

Gavin McGowan's goal assured the Royals of a 4-17 to 4-15 lead at half time in extra time but Antrim reassumed superiority upon the next restart (with James Connolly hitting their fifth goal) to lead by two with a few minutes left. However, there was one more sting in this tail / tale as the magnificent Royal County finished with points from Clynch, Toher and Clynch for the most remarkable of victories.

Meath - S McGann; S Geraghty, R Sherlock, D Donoghue; S Brennan, K Keoghan, S Whitty; S Heavey, S Morris (0-1); J Keena (0-1), D Healy, A Gannon (0-2); G McGowan (1-0), J Toher (0-12, 11f), N Heffernan (2-0). Subs: S Clynch (1-3, 0-2f) for S Brennan, S Quigley (0-2) for S Heavey, K Keena for N Heffernan, M O'Grady for J Keena, J Keena for M O'Grady.

Antrim - E Gillan; P Burke, T McCloskey, S McCrory; O McFadden, N McAuley, F Donnelly; E Campbell (0-1), E McCloskey; N McKenna (1-5), C Johnston (1-2), S McAfee (0-1); N Elliott (0-1), B McCarry, C Clarke (1-5, 0-2f, 0-1'65). Subs: PJ O'Connell for N Elliott, D McKernan (0-2) for B McCarry, J Connolly (1-0) for T McCloskey, D Hamill (1-0) for N McKenna, N McKenna for C Johnston, J Dillon for PJ O'Connell.

Referee - C McAllister.

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