Meath deny Antrim comeback
July 29, 2006
Antrim came back from the dead to bring this ESB All-Ireland quarter-final to extra time before 14 man Meath prevailed.
Meath 1-17
Antrim 2-10
The Leinster champions seemed set for an easy ride as they led by 1-8 to 0-2 after 24 minutes of play.
The sides had been well matched early on but a run of four points saw them open a healthy lead before Alan Nestor broke through to bag a Meath goal straight after two Shane O'Rourke points.
Antrim failed to give in and gave warning of their intentions with three points from Brian Neeson, Aaron Thompson and Conor McGourty to leave them trailing by 0-5 to 1-8 at the break.
Thompson scored Antrim's first goal ten minutes into the second half and the same player found the net again nine minutes from the end of the match to tie up the game.
Both sides exchanged points before Meath moved ahead only to be reeled in by an equalising score from Justin Crozier, to leave it 2-9 to 1-12.
Despite having Nestor sent off with a straight red card, Meath through Brian Sheridan (3) and O'Rourke out scored their opponent to take a three point lead at the half way point of extra time and scored the only point of the final ten minutes to advance to a meeting with Roscommon.
Meath - J Ginnity; G Farrelly, S Sheppard, S Carr; D Donegan, P Brady 0-1, D Dalton; E Reilly, C Finn; G Reilly 0-1, S O'Rourke 0-5, C Lynch 0-2; A Nestor 1-4, S Keating, B Sheridan 0-3. Subs - P Larkin 0-1 for E Reilly, S Mallon for S Keating, C Carry for G Reilly, G Reilly for C Lynch, C Clarke for S Sheppard.
Antrim - D Lynch; P Lowe, G Crossey, D Harbinson; D McCann, J Crozier 0-2, A Gribbon; G McCann, S Burke; B Neeson 0-1, C McGourty 0-6, M Sweeney; A Thompson 2-1, S O'Neill, C Murray. Subs - K McBride for D McCann, T Alwell for B Neeson, D Hanna for M Sweeney, B Neeson for G McCann.
Referee: E O'Grady (Leitrim)
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