National Football League Division Two B/Wexford 2-10 Meath 0-9:Despite defeat, Meath still find themselves involved in the league play-offs. Wexford needed an eight-point victory but just failed by a single point to deny their opposition a play-off spot at Wexford Park yesterday.
Wexford were left ruing a number of missed chances particularly when they were awarded a free some 30 metres out in injury-time. Redmond Barry must have suffered a bout of nerves as he scuffed his kick along the ground and, with it, Wexford's chance of achieving their required margin of victory.
It was seven minutes into the game before the opening score was registered, but shortly after Matty Forde pounced for a goal.
A second goal from Rory Quinlivan sent the home side in leading 2-9 to 0-2 at the interval.
Meath responded in the second half by kicking three unanswered points through Brian Farrell, Stephen Bray (two) to reduce the deficit.
While Meath struggled for scores, the home side had what seemed a perfectly good Ciarán Deely point signalled wide, but in a tension-packed finish the Meath defence held firm as they protected their single-point aggregate lead.
WEXFORD: J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, B Malone; G Sunderland, D Murphy, A Morrissey (0-1); E Bradley (0-1), T Howlin; C Deely (0-1), R Barry (0-1), A Flynn; C Lyng (0-5, two frees), P Colfer, M Forde (1-1). Subs: R Quinlivan (1-0) for Howlin, N Murphy for Sunderland, PJ Banville for Forde, P O'Dwyer for Deely, S Roche for Lyng.
MEATH: B Murphy; B O'Reilly, D Fay, C King; S McGabhann, K Reilly, E Harrington; M Ward, A Moyles; P Byrne, C McCarthy, G Geraghty; S Bray (0-4), B Farrell (0-4, three frees), C Ward. Subs: J Sheridan (0-1) for McCarthy, R Maguire for Ward, N McKeigue for O'Reilly, N Crawford for King, S Kenny for Byrne.
Referee: D Cahill (Tipperary).
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