All-Ireland MFC quarter-finals/Meath 1-17 Antrim 2-10: Leinster minor champions Meath had to survive a searching test by a resurgent Antrim in Clones on Saturday in a game that built to a nerve-tingling finish.
In the end, a point from substitute Paul Larkin, the only score in the second half of extra-time, secured a win for 14-man Meath who by that stage had lost goalscorer Alan Nestor to a straight red card following an off-the-ball strike on Antrim's Pádraig Lowe.
Meath started well and four points in a purple patch between the 15th and 19th minutes from Shane O'Rourke and Nestor fired them into a five-point lead.
Conor McGourty pulled one back for the Saffrons but O'Rourke added two points for Meath before setting up Nestor, whose 24th-minute goal put the Royals nine points in front. Three points for Antrim from Brian Neeson, Aaron Thompson and McGourty reduced the deficit to 1-8 to 0-5 at the interval.
Thompson's goal 10 minutes after the break continued Antrim's revival. Nestor added a point for Meath but Thompson cleverly lobbed the Meath goalkeeper for a second goal in the 21st minute and the teams were tied at 2-9 to 1-12 at full time. Three points from Brian Sheridan (two frees) and another from the influential O'Rourke helped Meath lead at half-time in extra-time, 1-16 to 2-10.
MEATH: J Ginnity; G Farrelly, S Sheppard, S Carr; D Donegan, P Brady (0-1), D Dalton; E Reilly, C Finn; G Reilly (0-1), S O'Rourke (0-5), C Lynch (0-2); A Nestor (1-4), S Keating, B Sheridan (0-3, two frees). Subs: P Larkin (0-1) for E Reilly, S Mallon for Keating, C Carry for G Reilly, G Reilly for Lynch, C Clarke for Sheppard.
ANTRIM: D Lynch; P Lowe, G Crossey, D Harbinson; D McCann, J Crozier (0-2), A Gribbon; G McCann, S Burke; B Neeson (0-1), C McGourty (0-6), M Sweeney, A Thompson (2-1), S O'Neill, C Murray. Subs: K McBride for D McCann, T Alwell for Neeson, D Hanna for M Sweeney, B Neeson for G McCann.
Referee: E O'Grady (Leitrim).
