Draw keeps Meath in Division 2

Meath 0-17 Tyrone 1-14

Meath completed their Division 2 campaign with just one win, but managed to avoid relegation, thanks to a battling draw with promotion-chasing Tyrone at Pairc Tailteann.

A cracking encounter at the Navan venue finished all square, thanks to a late equaliser from Tyrone’s Martin Penrose.

Tension filled the air for a few moments after the final whistle, until news filtered through that Kildare had defeated Sligo, a result which saved the Royals from relegation.

Tyrone started strongly, and by ht 15th minute they had eased into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead with scores from Aidan Cassidy, Martin Penrose and McGuigan.

But Meath started to pump long, high ball towards target men Joe Sheridan and Paddy O’Rourke, and the ploy paid off.

Sheridan had a couple of goal chances, but his shots lacked conviction and were comfortably dealt with by Pascal McConnell.

However, Shane O’Rourke and Paddy O’Rourke, who won his aerial battle with Joe McMahon, swung over points to cut the deficit.

And the Royals enjoyed a productive spell between the 20th and 27th minutes, when they hit four points to go in front for the first time.

Two Cian Ward frees were followed by a second point from Paddy O’Rourke, who also brought an excellent save from McConnell.

But Tyrone shot the last three points of the half, with excellent long range efforts from Penrose and Colm Cavanagh sending them in with a 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead.

Meath made a spirited start to the second half, shooting points through Graham Reilly, with a superb long range effort, and midfielders Brian Meade and Nigel Crawford.

But Tyrone struck for a goal in the 49th minute, Mark Donnelly’s shot parried by goalkeeper Brendan Murphy, before Penrose nipped in to punch the rebound to the net.

Meath’s response was defiant and effective. They went straight onto the attack, and hit seven of the next nine points to go ahead.

Central defenders Shane McAnarney and Brian Menton both pressed forward to hit the target, and there were points from Sheridan and substitutes Paddy Gilsenan and Brian Farrell.

Another sub, Kevin Reilly, made a big impact for the home side, but they were pegged back by sores from Cassidy and Penrose.

Graham Reilly stepped up to the plate once again with a couple of marvellous late scores, but it was Penrose who brought his tally to 1-6 with the equalising point from a stoppage time free.

Meath: B Murphy, C King, S McAnarney (0-1), G O’Brien, M O’Sullivan, B Menton (0-1), C Lenihan, B Meade (0-1), N Crawford (0-1), S Kenny, S O’Rourke (0-1), G Reilly (0-4), P O’Rourke (0-2), J Sheridan (0-2), C Ward (0-2, 2f).

Subs: P Gilsenan (0-1) for Kenny, K Reilly for S O’Rourke, M Ward for Meade, B Farrell (0-1, f) for Ward

Tyrone: P McConnell, M Swift, J McMahon (0-1, ’45), D McCaul, D Harte, C Gormley (0-1), R McMenamin, K Hughes, A Cassidy (0-2), C Cavanagh (0-1), B McGuigan (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-1, f), M Penrose (1-6, 0-3f), M Donnelly (0-1), O Mulligan.

Subs: Sean O’Neill for Harte, B Dooher for C Cavanagh, P Harte for Mulligan

Referee: D Fahy (Longford).