Meath 2-10
Louth 1-12

Meath snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Drogheda as Louth made the drop to Division 3 without a win to their name.

Substitute Dalton McDonagh scored a late goal to ensure the Royals of the local bragging rights, but wins for Donegal and Monaghan elsewhere means they will stay in Division 2 for another year.

Derek Crilly opened the scoring for the beleaguered home side, only for U21 Brian McMahon to reply with a fourth-minute goal for Mick O'Dowd's men. David Bray tagged on a point before three-in-a-row from Andy McDonnell, Crilly and Brian White brought Louth level.

The neighbours were level a further three times before substitute Cian Doyle and Declan Byrne pointed to put Louth two clear. But Stephen Bray pulled one back to leave it a one-point game, 0-8 to 1-4, at the break.

The Royals resumed with points from Graham Reilly, Shane O'Rourke and Andrew Tormey to move into a 1-7 to 0-8 lead by the 39th minute. Byrne had points either side of another Reilly effort before Doyle was fouled for a penalty, which Shane Lennon tucked away to give the Wee County a 1-10 to 1-8 lead after 53 minutes.

They looked to have done enough until McDonagh goaled at the death to give Meath both points.

Meath - C McHugh; D Keogan, K Reilly, C Young; S Kenny, D Tobin, D Carroll; B Menton, S O'Rourke; D Larkin, A Tormey (0-2), G Reilly (0-2); D Bray (0-1), S Bray (0-2), B McMahon (1-3, 0-3f). Subs: P Harnan for D Tobin, D McDonagh (1-0) for D Bray, S Gillespie for G Reilly, P Gilsenan for D Larkin, M O'Sullivan for B McMahon.

Louth - N Gallagher; P Rath, M Fanning, J O'Brien; D O'Hanlon, D Crilly (0-3), A Reid; P Keenan, B Duffy; P Reilly, B White (0-4, 1f, 1'45), D Byrne (0-2); A McDonnell (0-1), S Lennon (1-1, 1-0pen), K Rogers. Subs: C Doyle (0-1) for K Rogers, J Stewart for B Duffy, L Shevlin for P Reilly, D Clarke for C Doyle, C Rafferty for A Reid.

Referee - B Cassidy. Tweet

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