Clare progressed through to the second round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers by seeing off Meath on a 1-11 to 1-9 score-line in Ennis this evening.
Pearse Lillis’s goal after 12 minutes saw the Banner men take an early foothold and they’d 1-3 on the board before their opponents scored thanks to the points of Eoin Cleary (free), Emmett McMahon and Darren O’Neill.
Thomas O’Reilly landed the Royals’ first point in the 17th minute ahead of Matthew Costello doubling their tally and they’d be quickly erased thanks to more scores from McMahon and David Tubridy (free) at the other end.
Andy McEntee’s side finished the half in better fashion as points via Jason Scully, Eoin Harkin and captain Cillian O’Sullivan (free) sailed over and they’d make the perfect start to the second-half.
Conor McGill’s expertly taken penalty made it a one-point game with 40 minutes played and Daithí McGowan broke through to leave it all square on 1-7 apiece.
Bryan McMahon (free) and O’Sullivan twice gave the Leinster side the lead but through the points of Cleary and Keelan Sexton (45) Clare had it back heading down the home stretch.
Manus Doherty’s injuty-time point would help ensure the win for Colm Collins's men, as they now enter into Monday morning’s second round draw while Meath’s 2022 campaign is done and dusted.
Tweet