Tailteann Cup Semi-Final

Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

Meath hit the afterburners with a third quarter blitz of scoring at Croke Park to see off gutsy Antrim and secure their place in next month's Tailteann Cup final.

The Royals blasted 1-7 without reply in that scintillating period of scoring to open up an eight-point lead though they needed that cushion in the closing stages as gutsy Antrim rallied to push them all the way.

Jordan Morris starred again for the Royals with 1-4 while Trim's Aaron Lynch hit 1-2 for the second weekend running to help seal the win.

There was a notable performance too from Mathew Costello also who was named Man of the Match and the Dunshaughlin clubman used his post match interview to express sympathy for the local Kealy family following the death of former Dunshaughlin and Meath player Denis on Saturday.

Meath manager Colm O'Rourke admitted too that the occasion was one of sadness despite the two-point win which propelled Meath through to a July 15 decider against Down or Laois.

In the opposite corner to O'Rourke was his predecessor Andy McEntee, now in charge of Antrim, and McEntee must have been happy with how his team fought back from difficult position midway through the second-half to trail by just one on a couple of occasions late on.

They couldn't get back to level terms though and late, late Meath points from Costello and Morris proved to be the insurance scores.

Antrim reached the last four having already scored 10 goals in the Championship, nine in the Tailteann Cup and another against Armagh in Ulster.

They also cracked in 10 during the National League and had a clear point of attack in towering target man Ruairi McCann from the St Mary's club.

The powerful full-forward sprung to life in the 24th minute when he was fouled by Harry O'Higgins for an Antrim penalty that Dominic McEnhill dispatched.

McEnhill finished the opening half with 1-2 to his credit as the Saffrons took a narrow 1-7 to 1-6 lead into the interval.

Centre-forward Adam Loughran booted two eye-catching points and goalkeeper Michael Byrne went to kick a couple of points from a free and a '45.

Byrne also pulled off a terrific save from Meath full-forward Costello in the 30th minute.

The Royals did hit the net in the 12th minute when Lynch, who initially boomed a high wasteful kick into the danger area, got lucky with the breaking ball and capitalised when fed by Jack O'Connor.

Newcomer Lynch finished the half with 1-2 but it was an underwhelming start overall from the favourites.

And they slipped two behind when McCann plucked a ball from the air and converted a mark after the restart.

That was followed by a wide from Meath's James McEntee, his second of the afternoon as the Curraha man faced up to his uncle, the Antrim manager.

Suddenly, it was looking like it was going to be a difficult day for Meath at GAA Headquarters.

From that point of difficulty, Meath summoned their very best form over the next 20 minutes or so to rack up 1-7 without response.

Morris fired Meath's second goal in the 42nd minute when he capitalised on a ball in from Jack Flynn which was meant for McEntee but which broke kindly.

McEntee, Cathal Hickey and Morris added on points to leave the Division 2 outfit with a commanding 2-13 to 1-8 lead entering the final quarter.

It should have been enough to allow them to coast to victory but Antrim dug deep and reduced it to a one-point game with a stunning late showing.

Patrick McBride's 62nd minute goal ignited the northerners while Dermot McAleese struck two important points but they couldn't reel in the Royals.

Scorers for Meath: Jordan Morris 1-4, Aaron Lynch 1-2 (0-1m), Mathew Costello 0-4 (0-1f), Jack Flynn 0-2, Jack O'Connor 0-1, Conor Gray 0-1, James McEntee 0-1, Cathal Hickey 0-1.

Scorers for Antrim: Dominic McEnhill 1-3 (1-0pen, 0-2f), Patrick McBride 1-1, Adam Loughran 0-3, Michael Byrne 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), Dermot McAleese 0-2, Ruairi McCann (St Mary's, Aghagallon) 0-1, Ruairi McCann (Creggan) 0-1, Odhran Eastwood 0-1.

Meath: Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O'Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Jack Flynn, Conor Gray; Jack O'Connor, James McEntee, Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch.

Subs: Ciaran Caulfield for O'Higgins h/t, Donal Lenihan for McEntee 51, Cillian O'Sullivan for Lynch 53, Daithi McGowan for O'Connor 55, Ronan Jones for Hickey 65.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Ronan Boyle, Peter Healy, Eoghan McCabe; Patrick McCormick, Declan Lynch, Dermot McAleese; Cathal Hynds, Joseph Finnegan; Ruairi McCann (Creggan), Adam Loughran, Marc Jordan; Patrick McBride, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon), Dominic McEnhill.

Subs: Gerard Walsh for Healy 16, Eunan Quinn for Finnegan 52, Conhuir Johnston for McCann (Creggan) 62, Colm McLarnon for McBride 63, Odhran Eastwood for Loughran 72.

Referee: Barry Judge (Sligo).