Updated: Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 4:50pm

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Meath denied at Parnell

Meath 1-18, Dublin 2-15, after extra-time

Meath's Stephen Bray goes for a score under pressure from Dublin's Sean Murray at Parnell Park on Sunday.

There was no shortage of thrills at Parnell Park on Sunday as Meath and Dublin served a classic O'Byrne Cup quarter-final draw after extra-time.

Both sides can feel aggrieved that they left victory behind them, but they can also breathe a huge sigh of relief that they are still in contention for honours.

Dublin forced the game to a replay when substitute Colin Daly kicked a miraculous point deep into injury-time at the end of extra-time, but it was Niall Mooney who handed Meath the opportunity of extra-time.

With normal time elapsed, Dublin continued to lay siege to the Meath goals. They had obviously forgotten the new rule that play cannot be brought to a halt until the ball goes out of play and when Meath broke up an attack four minutes into injury-time, the referee had to allow play continue.

As the Dublin supporters behind the church goals bayed for the final whistle, Meath were patient with their build up before an accumulation of hard work resulted in Mooney slotting over the equaliser which forced extra-time.

Mooney's point epitomised the spirit shown by Meath. Eamonn O'Brien's men displayed a superb appetite and while there were many unforced errors that allowed Dublin stay in contention it was encouraging to see a Meath team battle until the end.

Meath defender Niall McKeigue will quickly want to forget this game. His careless 50th minute pass enabled Dean Rock to set up Kevin McManamon for his first goal which revived beleaguered Dublin and drew the sides level (1-7 to 0-10).

Two minutes later the O'Mahonys man needlessly handled the ball on the ground and Bernard Brogan converted the free to give Dublin a confidence-boosting lead for the first time.

A third McKeigue error ahead of the extra-time interval put the ball into the path of McManamon and the St Jude's man executed a brilliant finish to put Dublin in the driving seat, 2-13 to 0-15.

McKeigue recovered during the second period of extra-time and produced some fine clearances and it was that dogged determination that typified Meath's display and ensured a replay.

The errors only contributed to an excellent game. Referee Eddie Kinsella threatened to spoil the contest with his over-fussy application of the ridiculous hand pass rule, but after countless early frees the game flowed and provided excellent entertainment.

At this time of the year it is all about learning lessons and both managers will be pleased with the performances of fringe players, although Dublin boss Pat Gilroy did have to deploy some of his big guns to blunt Meath's dominant edge.

For the Meath management there were many positives, most notably an impressive return by Stephen Bray. There was the excellent seven-point haul of Jamie Queeney, a few nice points from Mooney, the hard-working display of Conor Gillespie and the industry and effectiveness of Cormac McGuinness and Graham Reilly.

There were a few nervous moments for goalkeeper Davy Lyons who had a number of poor kick-outs and full-back James Macken who was exposed several times, especially when Barney Rock's son, Dean, came into the attack for Dublin.

Meath battled hard and got what they deserved. Defeat would have been harsh for either side, but Meath might be slightly more disappointed with the draw because they lorded the early exchanges and it was only careless mistakes that allowed Dublin stay in touch.

The early stages belonged to Meath with Mooney fisting over Stephen Kennedy's centre, Joe Sheridan pointing superbly from a sideline tight in the corner and Queeney making it 0-3 to 0-0 inside of seven minutes.

Dublin responded with a fine point from David Henry, who was a constant threat, but Meath looked comfortable and led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the first-quarter as David Bray (free) and Queeney traded scores with Dean Kelly and James Brogan.

Meath were unfortunate not to find the net subsequently. Queeney's long ball was touched out for a '45' by Stephen Cluxton, which Sheridan sent over, before Mark Ward's intricate through ball deceived everyone and rebounded off the post to safety.

Queeney missed a 13-metre free before Kelly blazed a goal chance wide for Dublin. Gilroy's men narrowed the gap to the minimum after a horror free from Lyons gifted Tiernan Diamond a point and a foul by Peadar Byrne allowed Blain Kelly score a simple free.

Meath finished the half with two of the next three points from David Bray (free) and Queeney either side of a Dean Kelly effort to give for a 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead.

Meath stretched their advantage to four points following scores from Queeney, but then Dublin surged ahead with points from Rock and Brogan which sandwiched McManamon's goal.

The Royal response was magnificent. A brilliant score from Reilly was followed by points from Stephen and David Bray, but then it was all Dublin for the last 12 minutes with Michael McAuley, Alan Hubbard and Brogan putting them in the driving seat.

They could have put the outcome beyond doubt, but McManamon was denied by a brilliant Lyons save, before Mooney popped up to force extra-time.

The added period was even more exciting. Stephen Bray pointed brilliantly, but then Dublin looked like coasting to victory when they took a 2-13 to 0-15 lead at the interval with points from Henry and Brogan and McManamon's second goal.

Meath got the perfect boost three minutes into the second period of extra-time when Sheridan netted after a fine knock down from Queeney. Despite a response from Kevin Bonner, Meath edged ahead with points from Queeney (two) and Mooney and looked set for victory until Daly's last gasp equaliser set up a replay which will take place at Pairc Tailteann this Wednesday, 7.45.

Meath - D Lyons; D Dalton, J Macken, E Harrington; S Kenny, C McGuinness, G Reilly (0-1); C Gillespie, M Ward; N Mooney (0-3), J Sheridan (1-2 one sideline, one '45'), P Byrne; D Bray (0-3, two frees), J Queeney (0-7, two frees), S Kennedy. Subs - G O'Brien for Kenny 10 mins, B Meade for Ward half-time, N McKeigue for Harrington 41m, S Bray (0-2) for Kennedy 53m; extra-time - S McAnarney for Byrne, S Sheridan for Mooney.

Dublin - S Cluxton; P Conlon, P Casey, C McCormack; A Hubbard (0-1), S Murray, D Nelson; E Fennell, M McAuley (0-1); D Henry (0-2), T Diamond (0-1), J Brogan (0-1); K McManamon (2-0), B Kelly (0-1, free), D Kelly (0-2). Subs - P Griffin for J Brogan half-time, D Rock (0-1) for B Kelly half-time, B Brogan (0-3, one free) for D Kelly 44 mins, D Kerrigan for Diamond 49m, G Brennan for Fennell 53m, K Bonner (0-1) for Murray 60m; extra-time - C Daly (0-1) for McAuley, S O'Shaughnessy for Henry, J Brogan for McCormack.

REFEREE

Eddie Kinsella (Laois).