Offaly ... 1-20 Meath ... 1-11 For a long way in Saturday evening's qualifier in Navan, there was the real prospect of former Offaly player Michael Duignan gaining a sensational success over his native county.
But then enter a former team-mate of Duignan, Johnny Dooley, and the picture dramatically changed. Meath trailed by only a point 19 minutes into the second half but they could add only a single score as the hot favourites sent over nine.
Dooley put his name on three of them and Rory Hanniffy, who had been switched from midfield to attack, also shot over three points as Offaly eventually showed their true worth.
Meath were in no mood to just make up the numbers and got their noses in front three times in the first half while assisted by the strong breeze.
Mickey Cole, whose sensational late late goal ousted Laois earlier in the campaign, was quickly on the mark with a point after just 10 seconds.
The wing forward soon doubled his tally and it took Offaly 17 minutes to go ahead with Simon Whelahan's fourth converted free giving them a 0-5 to 0-4 advantage.
They led by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break after Brendan Murphy found the net in added time at the end of the first half. Indeed Offaly could have been further ahead at the break but Simon Whelahan missed a straight-forward 20 metres free after Murphy's goal.
After Offaly went five points clear early in the second half, a Nicky Horan goal following a pass from Dan Dorran got Meath right back into contention and twice points from Evan Lynam had the deficit down to the minimum.
However, Dooley's introduction seemed to lift a lethargic Offaly outfit and Fr Tom Fogarty's charges found their scoring rhythm in the final quarter as the gallant home side could only add another Cole point during that period.
OFFALY: S Byrne; M O'Hara, J Errity, JP O'Meara; Brian Whelahan, J Brady, N Claffey; R Hanniffy (0-3), H Rigney; G Hanniffy, Barry Whelahan (0-1), B Murphy (1-1); B Carroll (0-3), S Browne (0-2), S Whelahan (0-4). Subs: D Murray (0-2) for Hanniffy, K Martin for Rigney, G Oakley (0-1) for Brown, J Dooley (0-3) for Barry Whelahan.
MEATH: M Gannon; R Dorran, P Donnelly, G Kennedy; C Keena, D Murray, K Dowd; C Sheridan, D Callaghan; T Reilly (0-1), D Dorran, M Cole (0-4); J Donoghue, N Horan (1-3), E Lynam (0-3). Subs: P Cooney for Callaghan, N Reilly for Donoghue, D Fagan for D Dorran.
Referee: S McMahon (Clare).
