Meath claim All-Ireland minor crown in stunning style

There were plenty of frayed nerves and bitten fingernails as today's All-Ireland MFC final drew to a close, but while others around were suffering Shaun Leonard kept a cool head and popped up with a stunning winning point to secure just Meath's fourth Tom Markham Cup with 1-12 to 1-11 victory over Tyrone in Croke Park.

It wasn't quite the smash-and-grab of the victory over Armagh in 1992, but it was no less dramatic as Meath saw their three-point lead at the second water break evaporate.

Tyrone were the dominant force in that final quarter, but they failed to punish Meath errors, and boosted by the Ulster side's waywardness Meath struck the late winner from Leonard.

Even after Leonard's remarkable score, Tyrone had a chance from a 25-metre free to level it up, but the pressure proved too much for Conor Owens and his effort sailed wide as Meath celebrated.

Tyrone came into the final with a huge reputation and off the back of amassing huge scorelines, none more impressive than in their victory over Cork, and they looked lively early on.

Despite Tyrone's bright start it was Hughie Corcoran who opened the scoring after two minutes for the Royals, but Tyrone's response was positive as they were patient in their build up before Eoin McElholm equalised.

Ruairi McHugh won the subsequent kickout and point Tyrone ahead for the first time, but Oisin o Murchu restored parity three minutes later.

Tyrone took a huge stride towards victory when a long ball tempted Oisin McDermott from his goals, but the goalkeeper lost the race with Cormac Devlin who slotted to the net in the eighth minute.

Ronan Cassidy added a free a minute later and Tyrone were 1-3 to 0-2 to the good.

A scrappy point from Leonard a minute later was crucial, but Tyrone retored their four-point cushion when Hawkeye awarded Cassidy his second point.

With the game threatening to get away from them, Meath struck a goal in the 13th minute when Liam Kelly won a kickout and played the ball to O Murchu who was out in front of his marker and applied a brilliant finish.

Sean Emmanuel was rewarded for his incessant workrate with a point to ensure Meath were level at the water break, 1-4 each.

McElholm restored Tyrone's lead when play resumed, but quickfire scores from Conor McWeeney and Jack Kinlough had Meath ahead for just the second time, 1-6 to 1-5, in the 22nd minute.

Hugh Cunningham's free levelled up again 90 seconds later, but Meath ensured a 1-7 to 1-6 interval lead when Corcoran converted a free. Tyrone did have a goal chance before the interval, but John O'Regan brilliantly blocked Gavin Potter's effort.

When play resumed points from Owens (free) and Devlin, either side of a converted '45' from McDermott had the sides level

However in a four minute burst from the 43rd minute Meath cut for home.

O Murchu pointed after a superb run from Leonard. McDermott converted a '45' after Corcoran was denied a goal by Niall Robinson's great save and then Corcoran made it 1-11 to 1-8 with a sublime effort off the outside of his right boot.

The water break gave Tyrone time to breathe and regroup and they dominated the remainder, but squandered chance after chance.

Cassidy's free got them to within two points as the game ticked into injury-time.

Owens looked to have forced extra-time when he levelled it up in the 63rd minute, but there was still time for a couple more twists.

A superb run by Conor Ennis led to Christian Finlay and Kinlough combining to set up Leonard and his outstanding point proved to be the winner as Owens late effort from a free sailed wide.

SCORERS

Meath - Oisin O Murchu 1-2; Hughie Corcoran 0-3 one free; Shaun Leonard 0-2; Oisin McDermott 0-2 '45s'; Sean Emmanuel 0-1; Conor McWeeney 0-1; Jack Kinlough 0-1.

Tyrone - Cormac Devlin 1-1; Ronan Cassidy 0-2 one frees; Conor Owens 0-2 frees; Eoin McElholm 0-2; Ruairi McHugh 0-2; Hugh Cunningham 0-1 free;

TEAMS

Meath - Oisin McDermott; Conor Ennis, Liam Kelly, Sean O'Hare; Tomas Corbett, John O'Regan, Killian Smyth; Paul Wilson, Jack Kinlough; Shaun Leonard, Sean Emmanuel, Conor Mcweeney; Christian Finlay, Oisin O Murchu, Hughie Corcoran. Subs - Andrew Moore for Mcweeney 52 mins, James Foley for Corcoran 57m, Brian O'Halloran for Kelly 60m.

Tyrone - Niall Robinson; Michael Rafferty, Ronan Fox, Callan Kelly; Hugh Cunningham, Shea O'Hare, Matthew Mallon; Ronan Donnelly, Ruairi McHugh; Ronan Strain, Cormac Devlin, Gavin Potter; Ronan Cassidy, Paddy McCann, Eoin McElholm. Subs - Conor Owens for Potter half-time, Jack Martin for Donnelly 31 mins, Noah Grimes for McCann 46m, Ronan Molloy for Cunninham 57m.

Referee - Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary).