Galway's Shane Walsh scored 1-7 as Galway overcame Meath in this entertaining, is somewhat tetchy, round five fixture at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday that relegates the Royals. 

Galway 1-14

Meath 1-12

In Meath's final home fixture of the campaign, a spirited final quarter rally almost salvaged something for Andy McEntee's men,

A scoring surge either side of half-time on an afternoon diminished by squally showers maintained pole position in the table for Padraig Joyce's side. 

Eight down, 0-1 to 1-6, after 30 minutes Galway moved 1-11 to 1-8 clear by the hour mark.

Despite playing against the elements Meath shaded the scoring, 0-4 to 0-3, in the time remaining. 

Meath sub Donal Lenihan scored three points in the latter stages and almost notched the leveller from a 40-metre free but his effort was held by Galway 'keeper Connor Gleeson.

A Galway breakaway led to a close range free - and a black card for Thomas O'Reilly - that set up the game's top marksman to close the scoring. 

While Galway registered their fourth win (from five), it was a fifth loss for Meath whose remaining fixtures are both away.

Galway's bid for a league final place will be helped somewhat by having two matches on home soil.

Backed by the wind and the sun, Meath opened on the front foot with points from James Conlon and Oisin O'Brien.  A Michael Daly point interupted the sequence but Meath responded with Ethan Devine's well-taken goal. 

The scoring rate dropped but Meath moved 1-6 to 0-1 clear by the 30th minute courtesy of fine points from Cillian O'Sullivan and James Conlon's second point. 

The second quarter got increasingly fractious with couple of Galway players seemingly deliberately time wasting.with wind advantage to come.

Matters grew increasingly tetchy with half-time approaching with a number of yellow cards issued by the change of ends.

The Galway team and the match officials were serenaded by a chorus of boos from some of home crowd. 

Galway pulled back three points before the break with Shane Walsh (frees) and Michael Daly to leave it 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Within five minutes of the restart, Galway had the gap down to the minimum with Walsh's goal, but Meath did not capitulate. A Shane Walsh wonderpoint was another highlight following a strong solo down the stand side towards the town end.

In the rounds remaining: Galway are at home to Mayo and  Dublin while Meath are away to Dublin and Monaghan (a). 

Galway - C Gleeson; S Kelly, S Mulkerrin, J Heaney; L Silke, J Daly, G O'Donnell; R Steede (0-1), T Flynn; E Brannigan (0-1), D Comer, M Daly (0-1); M Farragher, S Walsh (1-7, 0-6f), A Varley. Subs: P Conroy (0-4, 1m) for M Farragher, G Bradshaw for G O'Donnell, R Finnerty for A Varley, D Silke for M Daly.

Meath - M Brennan; R Clarke, C McGill, D Toner; J McEntee, Ronan Ryan, D Keogan; B Menton (0-2), B Conlon; C O'Sullivan (0-1), B McMahon (0-3), E Devine (1-0); J Conlon (0-2), T O'Reilly, O O'Brien (0-1). Subs: S Walsh for O O'Brien, D Lenihan (0-3, 2f) for E Devine, P Harnan for J Conlon, J O'Connor for J Conlon.

Referee - N Cullen.

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