Meath 1-11
Longford 0-11
 
Meath qualified for the quarter-finals of the Leinster MFC with a workman like display at the well appointed Peasre Pairc in Longford.

The pitch was in excellent condition in the neat and compact ground and while the swirling breeze did cause a few problems the dry sod and sunshine were conducive to good football.
 
Longford started well with the towering Timmy Jackson proving very strong around the middle of the pitch and full forwards Larry Moran and Rory Connor proving a handful for the Meath defence. Connor pointed early on to give Longford a boost and while Paddy Kennelly levelled the sprightly Longford number 14 edged the home side ahead again. Cillain O'Sullivan drew the game level and with Eamon Wallace looking dangerous both Barry Dardis and Stephan Coogan shot wide of the posts when goal chances where offered.
 
Moran pushed Longford ahead again and soon after Wallace shot over when going for a goal after a good run. Longford's Liam Connerton pointed on 20 minutes and Longford centre forward and captain Ross McNerney put two points between the sides. Meath attacked and a number of goal attempts where repelled and this pressure ended with Padraic Harnan being fouled and Barry Dardis put the penalty away expertly to give Meath a one point lead. Moran levelled the game but the last action of the half saw Stephan Coogan point a 45 to leave Meath 1-4 to 0-6 ahead at the break after James McEntee's effort was saved when it looked easier to find the net. Meath led in the wide count three to two.
 
A bright start to the second half had O'Sullivan pulled down while in full flight and while he missed the resultant free he went on to have a blistering second half as he tormented the Longford defence. A well struck point from O'Sullivan was followed with a Coogan free brought forward following dissent from the Longford rearguard. A Coonor free narrowed the gap but two more O'Sullivan points from play pushed Meath four ahead.  Two frees from left footer Ciaran Mallon narrowed the gap again but the Meath defence was faring better with substitutes James O'Malley and Nial Kane to the fore as full back Brian Power was coping better with the Longford danger man Rory Connor at this stage.
 
Pauric Harnan had a strong second half display as both  Longford midfielders where replaced and another Coogan 45 along with points from Ruairi O'Coileain and an O'Sullivan free had Meath five up as the 60 minute mark passed, Two late points from the impressive U-16 Daniel McGivney and another from Moran ended the scoring as Meath hearts fluttered when was high ball was misjudged and ended up as a fruitless Longford 45.
 
Longford had only four starters from the previous Leinster League clash in Drumlish and pushed Meath all the way totalling six wides to Meath's eight.

The Jenkinstown pair Harnan and O'Sullivan where central to Meath's win while, Power, Declan Smyth, Adam Flanagan, Paddy Kennelly, Cogan and Wallace also had good moments.
 
Meath - R Burlington; J Dowdall, B Power, D Toner; D Smyth, S McEntee, R O Coileain (0-1); P Harnan, A Flanagan; C O'Sullivan (0-5), P Kennelly (0-1), J McEntee; B Dardis (1-0), E Wallace (0-1), S Coogan (0-3). Subs: J O'Malley for Dowdall, O Reilly for McEntee, C Gillispie for Flanagan, N Kane for Toner, C O'Brien for O Reilly.

Longford - C Farrell; M Mulligan, C Farrelly, J Gill; D McGivney (0-1), A McElligott, E Noonan; T Jackson, A Dalton; L Connerton (0-1), R McNerney (0-1), S Clarke; L Moran (0-3), R O'Connor (0-3), J Earley. Subs: L Sullivan for Noonan, P Farrell for McElligott, C Mallon (0-2) for Earley, K Farrell for Connerton, G Connell for Jackson.

Ref - F Smith (Offaly) Tweet

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