ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION II: GALWAY 0-15 MEATH 1-12

By Cian O'Connell at Pearse Stadium

A thrilling Pearse Stadium tussle concluded in a welter of excitement as Galway and Meath shared the Allianz Football League Division II spoils.

Trailing by nine points at the break Galway went three clear in the closing stages, but Meath finished strongly at Salthill. Meath dominated the opening period eventually departing at the break armed with a commanding 1-8 to 0-2 advantage.

Mick O'Dowd's much improved visitors' reeled off five points without reply inside 19 minutes as Galway struggled to convert scoring chances.

Sean Tobin, Eamonn Wallace, Graham Reilly (2), and Mickey Newman all contributed points for Meath, who were firmly in control. Damien Comer, who was subsequently black carded on the stroke of half-time, drilled Galway's first score in the 20th minute.

But Meath weren't too bothered, punishing a Galway lapse in concentration in the 32nd minute when Newman grabbed a goal. Galway were in deep trouble and when Sean Tobin and Newman added further efforts and the Corribsiders' were nine behind at the turnaround.

After the restart Galway recovered impressively hitting 13 of the next 14 scores to take the lead with a sweet Tom Flynn point on 58 putting the Tribesmen in front for the first time.

Shane Walsh Paul Conroy, and Gary O'Donnell all landed delightful points and Galway levelled when Eddie Hoare split the uprights in the 56th minute.

Flynn's point was followed by frees from Conroy and substitute Gary Sice, but Meath replied with admirable courage. Reilly, Wallace, and lively replacement Cian O'Brien kicked points to restore parity as an exciting match continued.

In stoppage time Reilly was sent off for a second bookable offence as both teams were satisfied to avoid defeat.

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Scorers for Galway: E Hoare 0-4 (2f), S Walsh 0-3, T Flynn 0-2, P Conroy 0-2 (1f), G O’Donnell 0-1, A Varley 0-1, D Comer 0-1, G Sice 0-1 (1f)

Scorers for Meath: M Newman 1-2, G Reilly 0-3, E Wallace 0-3, S Tobin 0-2 (2f), D Lenihan 0-1, C O’Brien 0-1.

**GALWAY: **M Breathnach; D Wynne, D Kyne, E Kerin; L Silke, G O’Donnell, J Heaney; T Flynn, P Conroy; E Tierney, E Hoare, E Brannigan; S Walsh, A Varley, D Comer. Subs: F Hanley for Kerin (17 mins), G Sice for Tierney (36 mins), D Cummins for Comer (36 mins, bc), S Denvir for Brannigan (70 mins), C Sweeney for Heaney (70 mins)

**MEATH: **C McHugh; M Burke, C McGill, D Keogan; J McEntee, P Harnan, A Douglas; G Reilly, H Rooney; E Wallace, C O’Sullivan, D Tobin; S Tobin, M Newman, D Lenihan. Subs: N Judge for Keogan (12 mins, bc), R O’Coiliean for Newman (50 mins), C O’Brien for Judge (50 mins), C Downey for S Tobin (67 mins)

**Referee: **C Lane (Cork).

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