After a two week break Meath and Dublin were back at it again for the third instalment this day, June 23rd 1991, 25 years ago.

The third game was generally acclaimed to have been the best of the three, with some passages of sparkling football and several outstanding individual performances.

The attendance for the third game was 63,730, yet another record.  

Gerry McEntee, who had watched the first two games from the Hogan Stand, was listed among the substitutes.  Tommy Dowd lost his place and Colm Coyle commenced a championship game for the first time this year. 

Dublin led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half time and with fifteen minutes remaining they had stretched the lead to five points, 0-10 to 0-5.  Early in the first half they  had introduced Gerry Hargan for Ciaran Walsh and it looked as if their mentors had, at last, got it right.  With Meath's midfield struggling, Sean Boylan introduced McEntee to the fray and the familiar comeback took place again. With five minutes remaining and the deficit still at five points.  Colm Coyle centred from under the Cusack Stand and Bernard Flynn rose highest to fist to the net. The revival was on … again.  Stafford pointed from play and then, in injury time, he slotted over the equaliser from a free. The final whistle went, Meath 1-7, Dublin 0-10.

Aching limbs and weary bones. Another period of extra time. A first minute goal from Colm Coyle should have provided Meath with a winning platform but minutes later Paul Clarke had the ball in the Meath net.  Points were swapped and the scores were level at the break, 2-9 to 1-12.  Four points were shared in the second period of extra time and when the final whistle was blown the sides were still level.  Paul Clarke had missed a match winning opportunity, but a minute earlier David Beggy appeared to have been fouled as he advanced towards goal.  For a change it was Dublin who got the late equaliser on this occasion, a great point by Paul Curran.  

More disbelief! More fixture congestion! More crowds and for the gallant players of both team, more football!  The prospect was not that welcome. There were those who posed the question - does the All-Ireland really matter any more?  

The final score was Meath 2-11, Dublin 1-14. 

The Meath team was Michael McQuillan, Robbie O'Malley, Mick Lyons, Terry Ferguson, Kevin Foley, Liam Harnan, Colm Coyle (1-0), Liam Hayes, Martin O'Connell, David Beggy, Colm O'Rourke, PJ Gillic, Sean Kelly, Brian Stafford (0-10, 0-7 frees), Bernard Flynn (1-1).  Subs: Tommy Dowd for Gillic, Gerry McEntee for Kelly.  In extra-time PJ Gillic for Hayes, Brendan Reilly for Foley and Sean Kelly for Dowd.

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