Wexford 2-14 Meath 2-13: Wexford footballers staged a sensational second half comeback to beat Meath in this remarkable Leinster SFC quarter-final at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow this afternoon.
The Royal County looked to be in total control of the game when leading by 10 points at half time (2-8 to 0-4) their goals coming from team captain Stephen Bray on 20 minutes and veteran Graham Geraghty on 31.
Colm Coyle's side still held a 10 point lead 2-12 to 0-8 after 15 minutes play of the second half and looked destined for a Leinster semi-final meeting with Laois.
But a 51st Redmond Barry goal for Wexford sparked a quite magnificent revival from the Model County and the big Wexford support in the attendance of just over 10,000 sensed there could yet be something in this game for their side.
Suddenly the previous domination of Meath's Mark Ward was broken and with it Meath's composure as Wexford Matty Forde, Ciaran Lyng and PJ Banville starred in the Wexford revival.
A PJ Banville goal on 61 minutes left only a goal separating the sides (2-13 to 2-10).
As the Meath challenge wilted in the sunshine they were reduced to 14 men when Ward was issued with a second yellow card.
Three unanswered Wexford points from Shane Roche, Adrian Morrissey and Forde was followed by the winning point from Forde, who shot four second half points.
It was the most incredible championship comeback by Wexford, who thus maintained their unbeaten run in 2008 and will not be fazed by the prospect of a Croke Park showdown with Laois, 0-15 to 0-13 winners over Wicklow at the same venue yesterday.
Wexford:A. Masterson, C. Morris (0-1), P. Wallace,
B.Malone, N. O'Sullivan, D. Murphy, N. Murphy, R. Stafford, E.
Bradley, P.J. Banville (1-1), R. Barry (1-1), A. Flynn, C. Lyng
(0-4, 0-2f), P. Colfer (0-1). M. Forde (0-4, 0-1f)
Subs:T. Howlin for Stafford (h/t); A. Morrissey
(0-1) for O'Sullivan; D. Walsh for N. Murphy; C. Byrne for Bradley;
S. Roche (0-1) for Flynn
Meath:M. Ahern, C. O'Connor, D. Fay, C. McGill, E.
Harrington, K. Reilly, C. King, B. Meade, M. Ward (0-1), A. Nestor
(0-2), C. Ward (0-2, 0-2f), P. Byrne (0-3), S. Bray (1-2), J.
Sheridan (0-3), G. Geraghty (1-0)
Subs:B. Farrell for Nestor (h/t); A. Moyles for
Meade; G. Reilly for Ward; D. Sheridan for J. Sheridan
Referee:M. Deegan (Laois)