Meath 2-17 Galway 2-16

Meath booked their place in the Paul McGirr Cup last eight after staging a late late comeback to defeat Galway in this preliminary quarter final played in perfect conditions at Pairc Tailteann.

A Will Byrne point deep in to injury time sent the Royals on their way to the quarter final.

Meath were level at the break 2-6 to 0-12 with their goals coming from Cillian Murphy and Sean Smith. The impressive Barry Keating kept Galway in the game with six points, two of them two pointers. Midfielder Cian Hynes sent over the leveller just before referee Maggie Farrelly blew the short whistle.

The visitors took control of proceedings when Ryan Connolly found the back of the Meath net and soon after substitute Joey Cullinane was in for goal number two. Ciaran O’Donnell and Ryan Connolly added points and Galway led 2-16 to 2-11 with ten minutes remaining.

The game's turning point came soon after. Jaeic O Cualain rounded Meath keeper Charlie Finnegan only to see his shot come off the underside of the crossbar and back into Meath hands. A goal would have put the game to bed but Meath didn’t panic. The impressive Charlie Gallagher kick started a magical five minutes with a point and the Dunboyne star had the game all tied up as injury time approached with two brilliant two pointers.

Extra time looked on the cards but half forward Will Byrne had other ideas and just the before the final whistle he landed the winner to send Meath on to the last eight.

Meath scorers: Charlie Gallagher 0-7, Sean Smyth 1-3, Cillian Murphy 1-2, Stephen Cahill 0-2, Will Byrne 0-2, Sean Delaney 0-1

Galway scorers: Barry Keating 0-8, Ryan Connolly 1-1, Joey Cullinane 1-0, Ciaran O’Donnell 0-2, Cathal Heavey 0-1, Cillian O’Toole 0-1, Cian Hynes 0-1, Oisin O Neachtain 0-1, Dara Costello 0-1

Referee Maggie Farrelly

 

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