Limerick 4-12 Meath 4-3 An outstanding tally of 3-7 from full-forward Ian Ryan saw Limerick produce the shock of the day in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers as they dumped last year's semi-finalists Meath out of the Championship. Ryan struck a brace of goals in the opening half, one of which came from the penalty spot, to help the Treaty County into a 2-6 to 0-3 lead at the interval. His third goal came within minutes of the restart and had many of the Meath faithful who travelled to the Gaelic Grounds heading home. However if they were to have stayed they'd of witnessed their own side's goal show in the final quarter as both Brian Farrell and Joe Sheridan found the net twice to add some respectability to the scoreboard. The opening score of this eight-goal fest came from Meath's Cian Ward after four minutes which was meet by Ryan netting Limerick into the lead from a penalty after Shane Buckley had been impeded in the Royals' square. Ryan and Gerard Collins tagged on points before the hosts' full-forward found the net again on 18 minutes. Brian Farrell replied with a free for Colm Coyle's men, but a hat-trick of points from none other than Ryan assured the Munster side of a nine-point advantage at half-time. The Meath management tried to curb the influence of Limerick's main threat, but when he completed his goal hat-trick moments into the restart, some Meath fans had seen enough and were making their way out the turnstiles. The Treaty County tagged on further points before John Galvin struck their fourth three-pointer with 15 minutes remaining. The Leinster side were truly dead and buried by that stage, even if they didn't know it as a four-goal haul would follow as the four scores Meath would get in the second-half. Brian Farrell's goal on 58 minutes made way for Joe Sheridan to hit the net twice, with the second coming from a penalty. Graham Geraghty missed a chance to raise another green flag in the most peculiar of games. However Farrell made sure that the goal tally would mirror Limerick's as he netted for the second time in the closing stages. It wouldn't prove enough for the Royals though as Limerick ran out deserved winners with nine points to spare over their opponents, after dominating for three quarters of the match. Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's men will now take their place in the bowl for the second round draw of the Qualifiers at the expense of a disappointing Meath side on the day. Limerick - S Kiely; D Carroll, J McCarthy. S Gallagher; P Browne, S Lavin, P Ranahan; J O'Donovan, J Galvin (1-1); S Kelly, J Ryan, S Buckley (0-1); G Collins (0-1), M Crowley (0-2), I Ryan (3-7). Subs - J Cooke for Kelly, L O'Dwyer for Browne, JB Murphy for Cooke, S Walsh for Carroll, M Reidy for Ryan. Meath - B Murphy; N McKeigue, D Fay, C McGill; S Kenny, E Harrington, C King; M Ward, N Crawford; A Nestor, B Meade, P Byrne; S Bray (1-0), B Farrell (1-1), C Ward (0-2). Subs - S O'Rourke for M Ward, G Geraghty for King, S McAnarney for McKeigue, J Sheridan (2-0) for Byrne, C O'Connor for Kenny. Ref - V Neary (Mayo). Tweet

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