Rooney goal the crucial score for Meath Hill

Tommy Rooney's first-half goal was the crucial score as they earned a 1-9 to 0-12 draw against a Ballinlough side that required a victory to sustain their championship aspirations.

The teams were level four times in an absorbing second-half and it required a pointed free from Ballinlough's talisman Peadar Byrne, who playedthrough the pain barrier, on the hour to tie the scores again, but it wasn't enough as Ballinlough needed to win.

This was an absorbing encounter from start to finish and Meath Hill were well worth the result as they squandered a number of chances in that second-half when they missed scores for good positions.

Meath Hill manager Paddy Martin has certainly got the team playing in a productive manner and while they might still be considered  outsiders for the title, they look capable of causing the opposition in the knock-out phase plenty of problems.

See full report in Tuesday night's Meath Chronicle.

In the other group games Oldcastle defeated Drumbaragh by 2-11 to 0-8 after leading by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval. 

Nobber got the better of Kilmainham by 2-11 to 2-9.

All that translates into qualification for Nobber, Oldcastle and Meath Hill with Kilmainham and Drumbaragh facing relegation play-offs.

IFC GROUP A
Nobber    5 4 1 0 76 64 9
Oldcastle 5 3 1 1 82 57 7
Meath Hill 5 3 1 1 65 51 7
Ballinlough 5 2 1 2 73 72 5
Drumbaragh 5 1 0 4 67 84 2
Kilmainham 5 0 0 5 59 94 0