Leading by a point with 54 minutes played, underdogs Meath had hauled themselves into a winning position against a county they hadn't lost to since 1951.

They were clinging on by their fingertips at the finish in Portlaoise but Meath are through to the Super 8s for the first time after edging an epic Round 4 qualifier.

The powerful midfielder crashed home a goal in the 31st minute to put Meath into a lead they wouldn't relinquish and his second with nine minutes to go killed the contest.

Two goals in as many first-half minutes laid the platform for favourites Meath to cruise past Carlow in Portlaoise and through to the Leinster SFC quarter-finals.

Bryan McMahon saved Meath's blushes with a late goal to turn a potential disaster into a battling Leinster SFC win for the hosts in Navan.

It was the result most expected but Donegal's journey to the Allianz League Division 2 title was anything but straightforward at Croke Park.

Meath 2-12 Fermanagh 0-11

Meath snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to take a major step in their quest for a return to top-tier football with this victory in driving snow at Páirc Tailteann yesterday.

There was a sensational ending to this fully-blooded Division 2 NFL encounter as a penalty goal from Barry Dardis in added time strengthened Meath’s promotion push at Pairc Tailteann.

Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days blared out over the tannoy prior to the start of this Allianz League Division 2 tie at breezy Páirc Tailteann yesterday and while that may have been a bit premature for the Royals there were some positive signs in this hard-fought victory.

Declan Bonner, the Donegal manager, commended the resolve shown by his young side as they came from four points down late on to overcame Meath in a frost-bitten Ballybofey on Saturday night.

The fare on offer from both side was well short of what will be needed to win promotion but it was Meath who were happiest at the end of this dour Division 2 tie at Páirc Tailteann yesterday.

A goal from Stuart Lowndes on 54 minutes proved decisive, as Dunboyne captured the Meath SFC for the first time since 2005 at Páirc Tailteann yesterday.

Tyrone escaped from Navan with a narrow win and a place in the second round of the Qualifier series, squeezing out a courageous Meath side in an extra-time thriller.

Meath boss Andy McEntee expressed a mixture of delight and relief after his team boosted their prospects of avoiding the drop to division three following this polished display against fellow strugglers Down at Pairc Tailteann yesterday.

Tipperary 2-15 - Meath 1-10 

Cavan are sitting pretty on the summit of Division Two of the Allianz Football League thanks to a jet-propelled first-half display at Kingspan Breffni yesterday..

Sigerson Cup - St Mary’s 2-14 DCU-Dóchas Éireann 2-13 (AET): St Mary’s manager Paddy Tally praised his side after their dramatic upset in beating hosts and favourites DCU-Dóchas Éireann.

Derry 2-12 Meath 2-12: Meath manager Mick O’Dowd admitted next week’s crunch Division Two clash away to Laois will be “do or die” for both teams after the Royal County were denied victory in Derry by an injury-time Ryan Bell free.

Adare 2-17 Doon 2-15

Adare 2-24 Ballybrown 1-13

Longford 2-14 Limerick 0-09

Longford 2-14 Limerick 0-9

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte will give debuts to three players in tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Offaly in O’Connor Park in Tullamore (3pm).

Limerick 0-16 Offaly 1-11

Limerick 0-16 Offaly 1-11

Tyrone have made three changes in personnel for Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division 1 final with Dublin at Croke Park.

ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1:

If Sam doesn’t reside in Dublin next winter, the likelihood is that last week’s defeat to Tyrone will be pinpointed as the first blip when the season’s narrative is written, the first time Jim Gavin’s men revealed a chink in their armour.

Tipperary 0-15 Limerick 0-09

ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1: Kerry v Down

Limerick 0-10 Carlow 0-9

Eamonn Fitzmaurice has named just four recognised forwards in his attack for tomorrow’s trip to Ballybofey.

Limerick 0-08 Waterford 0-06

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has shaken up his team for tomorrow’s round three Division One clash away to Kildare, making six changes from the side that started last month’s home defeat to Dublin.

Offaly 1-8 Limerick 0-12

Limerick 0-11 Leitrim 0-09

Michael O’Donoghue and Jack Sherwood will both make their league debuts for Kerry in Castlebar tomorrow.

Bryan Sheehan, Anthony Maher and Aidan O’Mahony make their first starts of the year for Kerry in tomorrow’s McGrath Cup semi-final against Limerick at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Limerick 2-16 Clare 2-13

Only a few months into his tenure as Kerry manager and Eamonn Fitzmaurice is ready to quit. No, not his new job, which he’s thoroughly enjoying, his playing career.

IT’S 20 years since Meath last won an All-Ireland minor football title but denizens of the county may find greater solace in their last final appearance, in 2002, when they were well beaten by a superb Derry team.

You may have seen it.

Cork manager Conor Counihan will pick from a full panel of players when he names his All-Ireland semi-final team this evening.

Clare 1-13 Limerick 0-15

Limerick boss Maurice Horan has made two changes for Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Clare while he is also able to call upon talisman John Galvin after the star midfielder reported fit following a cruciate ligament injury.

Limerick 2-12 Waterford 0-7

Declan Ryan will have attacking aces Eoin Kelly, Seamus Callanan and Patrick Maher back in his selection plans for Sunday week’s Munster SHC quarter-final against Limerick but the Tipperary manager remained tight-lipped as to whether returning star Lar Corbett will be in contention for the Semple Stadium clash.