Meath manager Andy McEntee and his Longford counterpart Denis Connerton had no issue with yesterday's O'Byrne Cup semi-final being decided by a free-taking competition.

History was made in Navan when the shoot-out, which saw five players from each side take frees from the 45-metre line, was used to decide who would progress to next Sunday's final against Westmeath after the sides had finished level on 1-19 to 2-16 after extra-time.

Mark McCabe and Cillian O'Sullivan were both on target for the Royals who won the shoot-out 2-1 in the fading light at Pairc Tailteann.

"It was exciting. I spoke to a few people afterwards and they seemed to enjoy how it finished, probably more than I did," McEntee told the Irish Daily Star.

"It's tough, if you're after playing 70 minutes, plus 20 minutes of extra-time, and then you're asked to kick it that distance like, I didn't realise it was a 50-yard free. There was a bit of a breeze behind, but a 50-yard free-kick is a fair effort if you've just played 90 minutes.

"But look, in a competition like that, when the final has to be played next weekend, what's wrong with it?"

Connerton also endorsed the new rule, despite his side's cruel loss.

"We had to have an outcome today. It's new and what more can I say about it? I hadn't thought about it beforehand and we won't be encountering it again in all likelihood," he said.

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