Experience the key for Meath against Leitrim

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIERS: ROUND TWO: FT:

Leitrim 1-8 Meath 1-12, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2.30pm

*After extra-time….

Two of Meath's 1999 All-Ireland winning heroes combined to save the Royals' blushes in Carrick-on-Shannon this afternoon as they needed extra-time to edge past Leitrim - 1-12 to 1-8.

Dessie Dolan senior's Leitrim side were 0-8 to 1-4 in front going into the second minute of normal time and on course for a first win over Meath since a 1950 league encounter.

1999 veterans Ollie Murphy, a second half replacement, and Graham Geraghty then set about their rescue mission.

Murphy clipped over the levelling point in the final seconds of injury-time, and then a 1-1 burst from Geraghty in the first two minutes of extra-time's second half, sent Sean Boylan's charges through to the third round.

Boylan was left cursing a wides tally of 23 by the finish of normal time but when Murphy burst through to fire a goal shot off the crossbar in extra-time, '99 skipper Geraghty reacted quickest to finish the rebound past Leitrim goalkeeper Gareth Phelan.

Leitrim led 0-4 to 0-3 at the break in a dour battle, afflicted by some damp and dismal conditions. James Glancy's 53rd-minute goal had given the home side hope of an upset, but Meath's greater experience pulled them through.