LOUTH 3-11
MEATH 2-14

Louth and Meath will have to do it all again in Pairc Tailteann next Wednesday for the right to play Offaly in the Leinster U-21 semi-final as the teams couldn't be separated after a dramatic contest at Clan na Gael Park.

Both sides will come away from the game knowing that they missed a great opportunity to advance at the first time of asking, but equally they will be relieved to be still in the competition.

In a game played in true championship fashion, both teams gave it their all over the 80 minutes and few in the crowd could argue that both sides deserved to live to fight another day.

The determination shown by both sets of players was admirable in a clash that was illuminated by the performances of the attacking duo of Louth's Ryan Burns and Meath's Bryan McMahon.

Both players led their respective lines in impressive fashion with Burns - still a Minor player - finishing with 2-6, while McMahon chipped in with 1-7.

In what was a see-saw encounter for much of the contest, it was Meath who started brightest and had points from McMahon and Bobby O'Brien before Louth kicked into action.

Burns, Robert Quigley and Cian Doyle all found the target as the Wee County edged into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 20 minutes.

Louth, with the aid of the wind, were on top at that stage and they looked to have taken a grip on proceedings when Burns benefited from good work by Doyle and Conor Grimes to slip the ball to the net and put his side five clear six minutes before the break.

However, Meath refused to give up and after replying with a point, they turned the game on its head with two quick fire goals. Firstly, Joey Wallace took advantage of Louth's failure to clear as he poked the ball home before McMahon crashed home a great shot to help his side lead by 2-6 to 1-6 at the break.

A point from O'Brien had Meath four points up and with the wind in their backs they were favourites to claim victory at that stage. However, this time it was Louth's turn to transform the game with a brace of goals.

Points from Quigley and Burns cut the gap before Burns put the home side back in front with a well-taken goal and straight from the restart, Cian Doyle found the space to add another and see his side leading by 3-8 to 2-7 on 38 minutes.

Meath gradually began to get on top and were enjoying a good share of possession which saw them reduce the arrears to one point after 54 minutes with three unanswered points.

With time running out it looked as if the Royals would pay for failing to take their chances, but they did draw level in the final minute thanks to McMahon.

Louth hearts appeared to be broken when Neil Shortall's line ball bounced over the bar, but with the final kick, Burns held his nerve to fire over from a free to tie things up at 3-9 to 2-12.

The first period of extra time produced only one score from Cian Doyle, which was cancelled out by McMahon just after the restart. Conor Grimes and McMahon then traded points and although Louth lost Paddy Reilly, his side held out to claim a replay next week.

LOUTH - J Mulholland; E Lafferty, D Campbell, K Lenehan; D McMahon, R Brodigan, S Thornton; P Reilly, W Campbell; R Quigley (0-2), J Stewart, C McKeever; C Doyle (1-2, 0-1f), C Grimes (0-1), R Burns (2-6, 0-2f). Subs: D Marks for W Campbell, R Curran for R Quigley, C Ward for E Lafferty, K Hearty for P Reilly (BC), R Carr for C McKeever.

MEATH - A Colgan; S Carty, C McGill, D McQuillan; P Harnan, S Melia, S McEntee; A Flanagan, C Sheridan (0-1); C Brogan, B O'Brien (0-2), N Shortall (0-1sl); E Wallace (0-2), B McMahon (1-8, 0-7f), J Wallace (1-0). Subs: B Power for C Brogan, A Burke for J Wallace, S Mattimoe for P Harnan, H Rooney for C Sheridan, B Dardis for N Shortall.

REFEREE - P Maguire. Tweet

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