Who would have believed it? Carlow, with 13 men and only three wins to their credit (two of which came against London and Kilkenny) in Division 4 of the Allianz League, could hold raging hot favourites Meath to a draw last Sunday.

And if they'd brought their scoring boots, they might even have pulled off a famous victory.

With no disrespect to Carlow who showed no fear and were the better team in the second half, last Sunday's result was a new low for Meath and their beleaguered manager Seamus McEnaney, who professed to being "delighted" to have come away with a draw.

They are clearly a team in crisis and it would seem only a matter of time before they are put out their misery as far as this season is concerned. Next year, they will begin life in Division 3 and that is an unthinkable prospect for supporters who were reared on a diet of success in the 1980s and 1990s.

For all their problems, though, they should still have enough to see off an injury- and suspension-hit Carlow at the second time of asking. Already planning without Daniel St. Ledger, Paul Reid and Derek Hayden, Luke Dempsey also concerns over the fitness of the Murphy brothers, Brendan and Brian. The Barrowsiders don't have the resources to absorb such losses, and if Meath can get more from the likes of Joe Sheridan - who was virtually anonymous last weekend - they should pull through.

Verdict: Meath

Meath - D Gallagher, D Keoghan, K Reilly, B Menton, D Tobin, S McAnarney, M Burke, C Gillespie, B Meade, A Forde, D Carroll, G Reilly, B Farrell, J Sheridan, C Ward.

Carlow - TBC

Odds: Meath 1/9, Draw 12/1, Carlow 7/1

Match Details: Leinster SFC quarter-final replay, Tullamore, Saturday 16 June, 7pm Tweet

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