Royals survive as battling Orchard fall just short in thriller

THE two league points stayed in Meath on Saturday night but most of the positive vibes departed across the county border with Paddy O’Rourke’s side after this thriller in Navan.

On the last two occasions the Ulster side left Pairc Tailteann it had been on the back of seven-point defeats and something similar seemed in store when Jamie Queeney’s goal left them six adrift just after half-time.

The backlash was as impressive as it was immediate.