Meath score historic win over Longford
History was created at Pairc Tailteann this afternoon as Meath booked their place in the O'Byrne Cup final against Westmeath following a 2-1 free kick shootout victory over Longford after the game finished 1-19 to 2-16 following extra-time.
Meath looked set for victory on two occasions, but both times they were pulled back by stunning late finishes from the impressive visitors who issue a strong warning of a stern test in the summer when these sides clash again in the Leinster SFC.
Leading by a point three minutes into injury-time at the end of 70 minutes Meath seemed destined to advance, but Robbie Smyth struck wonderful equaliser to force extra-time.
In extra-time Meath moved four points clear with 30 seconds remaining, but Longford worked a stunning goal with the exhausted Michael Quinn prodding the ball to the net after Darren Gallagher had hit the post and seconds later Quinn swung a leg at an effort from 44 metres that dropped over the bar and sent the game to a shootout.
The historic shootout was played in near darkness and it was Sean Tobin who went first for Meath, but he missed his kick bedfore Smyth did likewise for Longford.
Both Mark McCabe and Sean McCormack converted their 45-metre frees to maintain parity in the shootout, but that proved to be Longford's only successful kick while Cillian O'Sullivan's effort proved to be the winner despite Joey Wallace and James McEntee both missing.
Apart from a frustrating and ugly first-half the game was hugely entertaining.
As Longford sat deep and retained possession early on scoring chances were at a premium early on and it took until the seventh minute for the opening score.
Prior to that Longford should have had a goal in the second minute, but Andy Colgan made a fine save to deny Sean McCormack after a mistake by Donal Keogan.
Four minutes later McCormack also missed a simple point chance from a free before Ronan McEntire opened the scoring for the visitors.
In that spell all Meath could muster was three wides as they continued to labour in attack against a flooded defence.
Robbie Smyth struck the postr with a long range effort for Longford before Ben Brennan quick free found David Toner who opened Meath's account in the 15th minute.
Two minutes later Longford's first moment of inventive play saw them retake the lead with Dessie Reynolds on target.
It took Meath another five minutes to add their second point as Brían Conlon lofted over following a burst from midfield and from the subsequent awful kickout Bryan McMahon squandered a glorious goal chance and on the counter Longford made it 0-3 to0-2 with a second score for Reynolds.
A McMahon free restored parity for the third time in the 25th minute, but four minutes later Longford were ahead again when McCormack pointed and when Seamus Lavin failed to cut out Michael Quinn's long ball the visitors stretched their lead as Rian Brady set-up Smyth for a simple palm to the net to make it 1-4 to 0-3.
Thomas O'Reilly replied seconds later with a point, but Longford ensured a 1-5 to 0-4 interval lead when Toner's misplaced free was intercepted by a Longford defender and ended with Brady lofting over.
In stark contrast to the opening period the second-half was hugely entertaining as the sides shared the first four points with McCormack and Brady on target for Longford either side of scores from McMahon and Thomas O'Reilly.
Successive points from McMahon (two) and a massive free from Brennan brought Meath level, 0-10 to 1-7, by the 49th minute, but Longford managed to edge ahead again with a point from McCormack.
With 12 minutes remaining Meath hit the front for the first time when Brennan intercepted a poor Quinn pass and on the break Bryan Menton and Cillian O'Sullivan combined to set up Sean Tobin for an excellent goal.
Joey Wallace stretched that advantage to 1-11 to 1-8, but Longford rallied impressively with Smyth (free), James McGivney and Darren Quinn restoring parity yet again.
Tobin looked to have won it for Meath with a massive score, but three minutes into injury-time Smyth produced a point from the top drawer to force extra-time.
In extra-time O'Neill and Tobin (free) pointed either side of scores from Smyth and McCormack to maintain parity, but Meath were piling on the pressure and were denied a goal when Paddy Collum made a fine save from James McEntee.
Mark McCabe pointed from 45 metres to ensure Meath led 1-15 to 1-14 at half-time of extra-time. Within three minutes of the restart James McEntee, Menton and O'Neill stretched Meath's lead to 1-18 to 1-14 and even though Smyth pulled one back from a free Meath still looked comfortable when Joey Wallace restored their four point cushion.
However, there was still time for drama with Quinn forcing the historic shootout which Meath managed to edge.
Meath – Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Luke Moran, Mickey Burke; Donal Keogan, Brían Conlon (0-1), Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton (0-2), Adam Flanagan; Paddy Kennelly, David Toner (0-1), Graham Reilly; Bryan McMahon (0-4 one free), Ben Brennan (0-1 frees), Thomas O'Reilly (0-2). Subs – Cillian O'Sullivan for Toner, Brian Power for Conlon, James McEntee (0-1) for Kennelly all half-time, Sean Tobin (1-2 one free) for O'Reilly 49 mins, Joey Wallace (0-2) for Reilly 56m, Daniel O'Neill (0-2) for Moran, Harry Rooney for McMahon both 70m. Extra time – Shane Glynn for S McEntee, Mark McCabe (0-1) for Brennan, Toner for Keogan,
Longford – Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Padraig McCormack, Peter Foy; Michael Quinn (1-1), Barry Gilleran, Ronan McEntire (0-1); Darren Gallagher, Andrew Farrell; Barry McKeon, Sean McCormack (0-4 one free), Dessie Reynolds (0-2); Robbie Smyth (1-3 one free), Rian Brady (0-2), Daniel Mimnagh. Subs – Pauric Gill for Reynolds half-time, Donal McElligott for Gilleran, Conor Barry for Gallagher both 47 mins, James McGivney (0-1) for McEntire 53m, Darren Quinn (0-1) for Mimnagh, Shane Donohoe for Fox, Mark Nally for Farrell all 65m. Extra-time – Farrell for Nally, Reynolds for Gill, Mimnagh for McKeon, Donohoe for Gilleran, Gallagher for Foy, Jayson Matthews for Brady.
Referee – Darragh Sheppard (Dublin).