LEINSTER MFC FINAL Meath ... 1-14 Offaly ... 2-10A POINT IN the 61st minute from substitute Donal Ryan earned Meath their second Leinster minor football title inside three years at Croke Park yesterday.
This win was certainly earned the hard way as Meath let a 1-13 to 2-5 lead midway through the second half slip from their grasp, with Offaly kicking five points in succession to equalise in injury-time.
Offaly began this game impressively and led by 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes with full forward Anton Sullivan and Ruairí Allen on target.
But Meath began to fire from all angles, with half forwards Mark Collins and Michael Newman hitting the target.
Meath's joy was short-lived as a brace of goals from centre-half forward Patrick Rigney in a four-minute spell powered Declan McGovern's side to a 2-4 to 0-9 interval lead.
Meath were strongest in the third quarter, Collins and Newman again punishing an Offaly side who were losing the midfield battle.
A late chance fell the way of the two-goal hero Rigney to send the game to a replay, but his shot flew wide of the posts as Meath claimed victory.
MEATH:P Curran; S O'Brien, C Lenehan, S Curran; W Carry (0-1), T Johnson, D Tobin; J Owens, D Carroll (0-1); D Smyth (1-1), M Newman (0-3), M Collins (0-4, three frees); A Tormey (0-1), H Silke, M Battersby (0-1). Subs: P Gilsenan (0-1) for Silke (39 mins), E Nulty for Carry (45 mins), S Dalton for Collins (53 mins), D Ryan (0-1) for Owens (54 mins).
OFFALY:S Nally; L Dunning, J Moloney, D Ryan; D Kelly, B Geraghty, A Murphy; B Connor (0-1, one free), NA Graham (0-1); K Lawlor (0-1), P Rigney (2-0), G Guilfoyle; B Allen (0-1), A Sullivan (0-4), R Allen (0-1). Subs: R Knight (0-1) for B Allen (42 mins), M Mangan for Lawlor (42 mins)
Referee:G McCormack (Dublin)
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