Meath 0-16
Wicklow 0-11

Meath recovered from a poor start to overcome 14-man Wicklow at a sweltering Dr Cullen Park this afternoon.

Relegated to Division 3 of the Allianz League during the spring, the Royals' miserable run of form looked like continuing when they fell five points in arrears after 15 minutes to the fast-starting underdogs. But to their credit, Seamus McEnaney's under-pressure charges finished the first half strongly to go into the break just a point adrift, 0-7 to 0-8.

And with the returning Joe Sheridan and five-point hero Graham Reilly very much to the fore, they pulled clear during a second half which saw Division 4 champions Wicklow suffer two significant setbacks. Talisman Leighton Glynn was stretchered off after a long stoppage when the sides were level and powerful midfielder James Stafford was sent off on a second yellow card five minutes from the end of normal time (a further eight minutes of injury-time were added on to allow for the stoppage caused by Glynn's injury).

Wicklow were forced into making a change before the throw-in when centre back Michael McLoughlin failed a late fitness test and was replaced by Rathnew's Stephen Byrne. Corner forward Sean McGrath raised the first flag after just 35 seconds and the same player added his second point three minutes later as the underdogs quickly settled to their task.

Tony Hannon added a pair of frees before Joe Sheridan had a goal attempt cleared off the line. Meath's luck appeared to be out as their captain Seamus Kenny was forced off injured. When late call-up Byrne made it 0-5 to 0-0, Meath were in serious trouble, but Brian Farrell steadied their nerves with their opening score on the quarter-hour mark.

Sheridan punished a poor clearance out of the Wicklow defence with the Royals' second point, but Wicklow restored their five-point lead thanks to frees from Hannon and full forward Seanie Furlong, who was proving a handful for his marker Kevin Reilly on the edge of the Meath square.

Trailing by 0-7 to 0-2, the Royals were in danger of drifting out of the game once again before two points in quick succession from debutant Mark Collins and Farrell left three between the sides. Sheridan set up Farrell for another before Baltinglass clubman McGrath kicked his third point to make it 0-8 to 0-5 after 30 minutes.

Meath's revival continued, however, as first Alan Forde - another of their four debutants - fisted over and then Graham Reilly drilled over after good work by an unusually quiet Cian Ward to leave the minimum in it at the break.

Reilly picked up from where he left off with his second point within 12 seconds of the restart to bring the Royals level for the first time. Wicklow were then dealt a massive blow when their captain Glynn was forced to retire after a challenge by Cian Ward, and was replaced by Paul Earls. The Garden County's misery was compounded when Ward slotted over a close-in free to give Meath the lead for the first time, 0-9 to 0-8.

By now, Graham Reilly was in full flight and two more points from the St. Colmcille's clubman had the Royals three in front. It took Wicklow 11 minutes to open their second half account through midfielder Rory Finn.

Tony Hannon kept Wicklow in touch from a free before Farrell pushed out the Royals' lead to 0-13 to 0-10 in front of a 7,350 attendance. Meath 'keeper David Gallagher then denied the Garden County an equalising goal when he saved from substitute Conor McGraynor, and Hannon was off target from the resultant '45.

Following that let-off, Meath were able to close out the game with scores from Sheridan, Reilly and Jamie Queeney, and they can now begin preparing for another very winnable Leinster quarter-final against Carlow next month.

Scorers - Meath: G Reilly 0-5; B Farrell 0-4; J Sheridan, J Queeney 0-2 each; A Forde, M Collins, C Ward(f) 0-1 each. Wicklow: T Hannon 0-6(4fs, 2 45s); J McGrath 0-3; S Byrne, R Finn 0-1 each.

Meath: D Gallagher; D Tobin, K Reilly, S McAnarney; M Burke, B Menton, S Kenny; C Gillespie, G Reilly; A Forde, M Collins, B Meade; B Farrell, J Sheridan, C Ward. Subs: D Keoghan for Kenny inj (9); J Queeney for Collins (55); P Byrne for G Reilly inj (65); B Sheridan for Ward (70); D Carroll for Forde (70+3)

Wicklow: J Flynn; C Hyland, A McLoughlin, A Byrne; S Byrne, S Kelly, D Healy; J Stafford, R Finn; D Hayeden, D O'Sullivan, L Glynn; J McGrath, S Furlong, T Hannon. Subs: P Burke for O'Sullivan (ht); P Earls for Glynn inj (42); N Gaffney for Byrne (47); C McGraynor for McGrath (55); J Bolger for Byrne (65)

Referee: P Hughes (Armagh) Tweet

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