LONGFORD 1-11

A Cillian O’Sullivan 45th minute goal paved the way for Meath to capture their first O’Byrne Cup title in 10 years.

The home side in Páirc Tailteann were three points up, having led 0-10 to 1-3 at the break, when Mickey Newman put in O’Sullivan slot the ball past an advancing Paddy Collum.

A reeling Longford conceded a rapid brace of points after the goal, one of them coming from Graham Reilly who once again looked a class apart in this competition.

Meath were forced to clear a Robbie Smyth ball off the line in the 62nd minute but it could hardly be stated that they rested on their laurels as they added three points in the final 15 minutes of normal time.

Earlier, Longford’s Darren Gallagher had a goal chance snuffed out in the third minute but Meath then began to take over in midfield where Harry Rooney continued his fine January form. By the 12th minute, they were 0-4 to 0-1 up, Reilly offering a brace of points. By the 16th minute, their lead had increased to five, 0-7 to 0-2.

A couple of substitutes by Denis Connerton around the middle seemed to do the trick and Longford settled in, cutting the margin to three via a Francis McGee and then making it a one-point game in the 28th minute when Smyth was in position to finish off a succession of quick hand-passes with a palm to the net.

A Newman free in the 35th minute ended almost 20 minutes without a Meath score and they rallied with further scores from Reilly and Newman, his fourth and final converted free.

Scorers for Meath: G Reilly (0-6); M Newman (0-4, frees); C O’Sullivan (1-1); D Lenihan, S Tobin (0-2 each); D Smyth, R Ó Coilleann (0-1 each).

Scorers for Longford: F McGee (0-6, 3 frees, 1 45); R Smyth (1-2); B McKeon, L Connerton, M Brady (0-1 each).

Subs for Meath: S Tobin for A Tormey (44); P Geraghty for A Douglas (53); R Ó Coilleann for C Downey (57); M Battersby for G Reilly, N Judge for P Geraghty, D Rowe for D Lenihan (all 68).

Subs for Longford: D McElligott for A Dalton (22); S Doyle for B Farrell (23); L Connerton for D Masterson, P McKeon for B McKeon (both h-t); B Kavanagh for D Gallagher (41); P McGee for D Brady (64).

MEATH: P O’Rourke; J O’Reilly, D Keogan, M Burke; A Douglas, P Harnan, C Finn; H Rooney, A Tormey; G Reilly, C O’Sullivan, D Smyth; C Downey, M Newman, D Lenihan.

LONGFORD: P Collum; CP Smyth, B Gilleran, F Battrim; D Masterson, D Brady, A Dalton; M Brady, B McKeon; D Gallagher, B Farrell, J McGivney; R Smyth, F McGee, M Hughes.

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)