John Maughan's Offaly were denied a first victory in this year's Allianz Football League campaign by a last gasp Meath goal from Joey Wallace, with both sides finishing level on 1-10 apiece at Bord na Mona O'Connor Park this afternoon.

Deep into five minutes of injury-time in Tullamore, the home side looked to have done enough to get two points on the board in Division 2 as they led by 1-10 to 0-10, thanks to Niall McNamee's 63rd minute goal, but the Royals engineered one last chance which was punched to Paddy Dunican's net. It originally looked as though it was full back Eoin Harkin who got the equaliser but after the game it emerged that it was substitute Wallace who got the final touch.

The first meeting between the counties in the football league since 1993 was largely a dour one, with Maughan's men taking a slender 0-6 to 0-5 lead into the interval after points from the impressive Dylan Hyland and Mark Abbott. Raheen clubman Hyland landed four points from play for the Faithfuls, including three after the break.

Meath, who played into the teeth of a strong breeze in the first-half for the fourth successive match, were dealt a double injury blow with defenders Cathal Hickey and Robin Clarke both going off while they played 10 minutes of the resumption with 14-men after substitute Jack O'Connor was shown a black card. But they struggled to take advantage of the elements that favoured them in the second period and had to wait 46 minutes for their opening score from play through Donal Keogan.

The draw leaves Offaly rooted at the bottom of table; Meath leapfrog Cork and Down in fifth place for now at least with three rounds remaining after this weekend. The Faithfuls have a game in hand though with their postponed trip to Salthill to face Galway still to be rescheduled.

 

 

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