In a novel win Meath booked a Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup final spot at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday with a narrow win over Longford.

Meath ......... 1-19

Longford ...... 2-16

after extra time, Meath won 2-1 on frees.

It was the first time the Royals were in such a shootout at this level. They showed a considerable degree of tenacity to prevail here having been second best for much of the 70 minutes.

Andy McEntee's men upped their game in the second-half of normal time to move four points clear with extra time almost up. Then Longford showed their mettle.

Michael Quinn intervened for fhe visitors with a goal and a point in the latter stages of extra time to force a free-kick contest to determined who would secure a final meeting with Westmeath.

Both teams picked five players to attempt to land points from 45 metres. Mark McCabe (Meath) and Sean McCormack shared spoils in the shoot-out from 45 metres. Cillian O'Sullivan landed what proved to be the decisive score in the fading light at the town end.

The second 35 minutes was a marked improvement on the opening half when scores and excitement were at a premium. Just 10 scores were registered in the first half.

Longford moved five points clear within three minutes of resumption when Sean McCormack landed a frees. Changes made at the break allied to two more made in the third quarter revived Meath.

Simonstown's Sean Tobin put 1-2 to his name following his 49th minute introduction. Cillian O'Sullivan had a considerable impact having joined the fray for the second-half.

The latter provided the assist for Bryan McMahon's 49th minute leveller.It was indicative of Longford that Sean McCormack quickly restored their lead.

A mistake by the otherwise impressive Quinn saw Meath hit the front through Tobin's goal in the 58th minute. That left it 1-10 to 1-8.

Time was almost up when Tobin pointed Meath in front. Then with three minutes of added time gone, Longford's top scorer pointed from distance into the town goal to force extra time with the scores tied at 1-12-each.

Longford were not unbowed in extra time and Sean McCormack had them in front seven minutes into first-half of the additional 20. A Mark McCabe point had Meath 1-15 to 1-14 ahead at the break.

Points from James McEntee, Bryan Menton, Daniel O'Neill and Joey Wallace moved Meath four points clear on two occasions in the second-half of extra-time. With the latter score the Royals looked good for a final spot.

There was a sting in the tail as Michael Quinn - who was pushed into attacked - poached the scores that forced the shoot-out. Conor Barry, McCormack and Darren Gallagher created the opening for the goal which was followed by the added time leveller.  .

In a nerve-testing finale, Meath had what was needed.

Longford kept it tight in the first-half as they guarded the town goal. The scores were tied three times in the opening 23 minutes. Longford were never headed in the opening headed in the opening 35 minutes.

Denis Connerton's charges kicked-on in the latter stages of the first-half. Capitalising on Seamus Lavin's failure to cut out Michael Quinn's delivery, Robbie Smyth flicked to the net from close range with assistance from Rian Brady.

That left it 1-4 to 0-3 with 33 minutes gone. Thomas O'Reilly pulled a point back for Meath before Rian Brady closed the scoring to leave Longford ahead by double scores, 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.

By half-time Meath had registered six wides, one more than Longford. The increasing cloud cover heralded excitement who gave the crowd - seemingly down on the weekend over Wicklow seven days earlier

Meath's Division 2 FL campaign opens at Roscommon on January 28. Longford are away to Offaly in Division 3 on the same day.

Longford and Meath are set to meet again in the Leinster SFC on the last weekend in May.

Meath - Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Luke Moran, Mickey Burke; Donal Keogan, Brian Conlon (0-1), Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton (0-2), Adam Flanagan; Paddy Kennelly, David Toner (0-1), Graham Reilly; Bryan McMahon (0-4 1f), Ben Brennan (0-1 f), Thomas O'Reilly (0-2). Subs - Cillian O'Sullivan for Toner (ht), Brian Power for Conlon (ht), James McEntee (0-1) for Kennelly (ht), Sean Tobin (1-2, 0-1 f) for O'Reilly (49), Joey Wallace (0-2) for Reilly (52), Daniel O'Neill (0-2) for Moran (70 + 1), Harry Rooney for McMahon (70 + 3). Subs for extra time - Mark McCabe (0-1) for Brennan, Shane Glynn for S McEntee, Toner for Keogan (73).

Longford - Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Padraig McCormack, Peter Foy; Michael Quinn (1-1), Barry Gilleran, Ronan McEntire (0-1); Darren Gallagher, Andrew Farrell; Barry McKeon, Sean McCormack (0-4, 1f), Dessie Reynolds (0-2); Robbie Smyth (1-4, 0-2 f), Rian Brady (0-2), Daniel Mimnagh. Subs - Pauric Gill for Reynolds (ht), Conor Berry for Gallagher (47), Donal McElligott for Gilleran (48), James McGivney (0-1) for McEntire (49), Shane Donohoe for Fox (65), Mark Nally for Farrell (65), Darren Quinn (0-1) for Mimnagh (65). Subs in extra time - A Farrell for Nally (70), D Reynolds for Gill (80), Mimnagh for McKeon, B Gilleran for Donohoe (80), Gallagher for Foy (80), Jayson Matthews for R Brady (87).

Referee - Darragh Sheppard (Dublin).

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