First half goals from Michael Newman and Andrew Tormey proved decisive as Meath overcame surprise-packets Tipperary to reach the All-Ireland minor football semi-final.

Meath.....2-9
Tipperary..0-10

Newman gave the Leinster champions a dream start when he netted from the penalty spot inside the first minute, but Tipp - who took Kerry to a replay in the Munster final - responded well and trailed by the minimum by the 14th minute.

However, Tormey’s 20th minute major put the Royals back in the driving seat and they went on to lead by 2-4 to 0-4 at the interval.

Meath continued to keep their opponents at arm’s length throughout the second half, and a 61st minute point from Paddy Gilsenan finally sealed Tipp’s fate.

The Royals will now go on to face Tyrone, who defeated them in a thrilling Ulster league final earlier in the year.

Meath - P Curran; S O’Brien, C Lenehan, S Curran; E Nulty, T Johnson, D Tobin; J Owens, D Carroll (0-1); D Smyth (0-2), M Newman (1-2), M Collins; J Regan (0-1), A Tormey (1-0), M Battersby (0-2). Subs - P Gilsenan (0-1) for Regan, S Dalton for Collins, B McGrane for O’Brien, D Ryan for Carroll.

Tipperary - J English, E Fitzpatrick, K O’Riordan, S Russell; D Lowry (0-2), R Kiely, C Walsh; E Hendrick, A Moloney (0-1); T Hanley, G Ryan, D McGrath; C Sweeney (0-4), L Treacy, M O’Dwyer (0-2). Subs - P McEvoy for Treacy, P Horan for Hendrick, G Mulhair (0-1) for Ryan, D Heffernan for Russell, B O’Hara for McGrath.

Ref - E O’Grady (Leitrim).