Meath recover to secure Div 2 status
Trailing 0-0 to 1-4 after just five minutes Meath looked doomed to defeat away to Laois today and the NFL Div 2 trap door gaped open beneath them.
However, a magnificent first-half recovery, led by the outstanding Graham Reilly, boosted Meath to parity by half-time, 0-9 to 1-6, and when Laois had Evan O'Carroll sent off in the 47th minute for a second yellow card offence it handed the initiative to the Royals as they kicked on to record an 0-18 to 1-9 win.
When O'Carroll was dismissed Laois led 1-8 to 0-9 and it took Meath until nine minutes from the end to get their noses in front for the first time with a Reilly point.
Once they got in front Mick O'Dowd's men grew in confidence and pulled clear to secure their status in Div 2 because of a superior scoring difference ahead of Armagh. Defeat relegated Laois.
Fermanagh's draw with Tyrone ensured they joined Meath on six points, while Armagh's six-point win over Derry also left them on six points. However their margin of victory over Derry left Kieran McGeeney's side on -16 and Meath on -6, with Fermanagh also safe on -2.
Next year Meath, Galway, Fermanagh and Derry with be joined in Div 2 by Cork and Down who were relegated from Div 1 and by Kildare and Clare who were promoted from Div 3.