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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Mayo v Meath, All-Ireland SFC Super 8s

We went minute-by-minute as Mayo and Meath went head-to-head in the sUper 8s.

Good afternoon everyone, you’re very welcome along to our minute-by-minute coverage of today’s Super 8s meeting between Mayo and Meath.

This is effectively a knock-out game at Croke Park. With both sides having tasted defeat last weekend, both Meath and Mayo badly need a win to help their chances of booking an All-Ireland semi-final spot.

James Horan’s side came up short against Kerry a week ago with a really underwhelming display in Killarney, while the Royals were also second best in their meeting with Donegal.

Throw-in is coming up in an hour’s time at 2.00pm, with today’s game live on RTÉ 2 if you happen to be near a TV.

James Horan Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

A general view of Croke Park before the game

The Mayo dressing room before the game

A quick reminder of today’s teams.

Mayo

1. David Clarke

2. Stephen Coen
3. Brendan Harrison
4. Eoin O’Donoghue

5. Lee Keegan
6. Colm Boyle
7. Keith Higgins

8. Donal Vaughan
9. Seamus O’Shea

10. Fionn McDonagh
11. Aidan O’Shea
12. Ciaran Treacy

13. Cillian O’Connor
14. Darren Coen
15. Jason Doherty

Meath

1. Andrew Colgan

2. Séamus Lavin
3. Conor McGill
4. Shane Gallagher

5. Donal Keogan
6. Padraic Harnan
7. Gavin McCoy

8. Bryan Menton
9. Shane McEntee

10. Ethan Devine
11. Bryan McMahon
12. Thomas McGovern

13. Cillian O’Sullivan
14. Mickey Newman
15. James Conlon

Mayo have made three changes to their starting XV from their 10-point defeat to Kerry in Killarney last weekend.

Seamus O’Shea comes into midfield with Aidan O’Shea moving to the half forward line, alongside newly-introduced Ciaran Treacy.

Eoin O’Donoghue is handed the No 4 jersey while Chris Barrett, Kevin McLoughlin and James Carr make way.

Meanwhile Meath are unchanged once again. Andy McEntee’s side are bidding to secure their first points in Group 2 following that 2-19 to 1-13 loss to Donegal in Ballybofey last weekend.

Mickey Newman, who bagged 1-2 against Donegal, leads the attack once again.

Enda Colfer paints the lines before the game James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Andy McEntee

Aidan O'Shea

Half an hour to go before we get underway at Croke Park. How do you see today’s Super 8s clash unfolding? Let us know below!


Poll Results:

Mayo win (456)
Meath win (126)
Draw (28)

Both teams take a quick scan of the playing surface. 20 minutes to go before throw-in.

James Conlon Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Keith Higgins

Michael Newman

There are three late changes by James Horan ahead of throw-in. Chris Barrett replaces Eoin O’Donoghue, Kevin McLoughlin is in for Keith Higgins and Fergal Boland takes the place of Ciaran Treacy. Meath remain as they are.

Throw-in! We’re underway at Croke Park for the first half

Mayo 0-0 Meath 0-0

Mickey Newman tries to slot over a pinpoint 45 to get Meath up and running on the scoreboard, but his effort drops short and Mayo clear the danger with Seamus O’Shea bursting out from defence into attack.

Mayo 0-0 Meath 0-0

Cagey enough opening few minutes here. No score on the board from either side as James Horan’s men dominate possession, Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle and Kevin McLaughlin hand-passing the ball left and right with ease, slowly building play.

Mayo 0-0 Meath 0-0

A sloppy wide from Fergal Boland there. He had oceans of space 40 metres out from goal and a free opportunity to shoot at goal. He looks up and sizes up an effort, but it flies the wrong side of the post. A poor effort.

Gavin McCoy and Darren Coen James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 0-0 Meath 0-1

Mickey Newman puts Meath on the scoreboard with a pinpoint free kicked off the ground. A nice strike to settle any nerves as the Royals take the lead in the 7th minute.

Mayo 0-0 Meath 0-2

Brian Menton with a super score from comfortable range after Aidan O’Shea lost possession in the middle of the park. Back-to-back points for Meath now 

Mayo 0-1 Meath 0-2

A brilliant strike from Darren Coen. He was surrounded by Meath bodies a good distance out from goal, but Coen managed to hook his right leg up and around the ball, plenty of power behind his effort to carry it over the crossbar towards Hill 16.

Mayo 0-1 Meath 0-2

Conor McGill with some important defensive work to earn Meath a free out when danger was afoot. A long ball punted into the square found Jason Doherty in space, but McGill did really well to win back possession and draw a foul.

Aidan O'Shea and Colm Boyle with Bryan McMahon Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 0-2 Meath 0-3

James McEntee with a good score to extend Meath’s advantage to two points. Mayo fly down the other end, however, with Fionn McDonagh curling a score of his own between the posts.

Mayo 0-3 Meath 0-3

Fionn McDonagh draws a loud roar from the travelling Mayo supporters, kicking another point over the bar to draw the sides level. He tries his luck for a third in-a-row from the resulting kick-out, but it drops wide.

Mayo 0-3 Meath 0-4

Meath so, so close to a goal. Donal Keogan leaves Seamus O’Shea for dead with a sublime dummy. He bears down on goal, but can only force a brilliant save from David Clarke who comes from his line. The ball spills back into the box and Mickey Newman can only chip the ball over the bar, instead of under it.

Mayo 0-4 Meath 0-4

Kevin McLaughlin sprints 60 yards to pick up possession. He finds a pocket of space and caps off a brilliant Mayo attacking move with a neat left-footed point to level the scores.

Darren Coen and Shane Gallagher James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 0-4 Meath 0-5

Ethan Devine comes off his marker’s shoulder and pounces with a score on his right boot. He runs into Colm Boyle in the follow-through and both men will now require some medical attention from the doctors.

Mayo 0-4 Meath 0-5

Seamus O’Shea crashes an almighty effort off the top of the post. A one-two with Cillian O’Connor inside the area sees O’Shea race through on goal, but his strike comes back off the upright and away.

Mayo 0-5 Meath 0-5

A poor wide from Bryan Menton there. A quiet passage of play sees the Royals slowly build up play, but it fails to pay dividends. At the other end Fergal Boland pulls away into space and fires over to level.

Mayo 0-6 Meath 0-5

Jason Doherty adds another with a good score from outside the D. A direct run from Doherty sees him bristle past his man before looking up and finding the target.

Jason Doherty and Conor McGill James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 0-6 Meath 0-5

Mickey Newman adds another wide for Meath, their third of the game. Bryan McMahon was pulling away calling for the ball and Newman seemed to take the wrong option there, slicing his shot wide as he fell off balance.

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-5

Recently-crowned all-time championship top scorer Cillian O’Connor kicks a free over the bar. It’s Mayo’s first point not from open play this afternoon, and it extends their lead to two points as we near the interval.

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-5

Bryan McMahon lobs a dangerous ball into the danger zone. It’s a Hail Mary effort which forces David Clarke from his line, but the Mayo shot-stopper is sure of himself and punches the ball to safety. Good goalkeeping.

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-5

Just a few minutes remaining before half-time. Meath have held their own in patches here, but a number of really poor wides have let the side down so far. That full-back line of Séamus Lavin, Conor McGill
 and Shane Gallagher have been excellent.

Conor McGill and Shane Gallagher tackle Seamus O'Seamus James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-5

Cillian O’Connor curls a free wide, Mayo’s third of the game so far. Some really sloppy execution from both side’s forwards has resulted in a low-scoring affair so far. Plenty of good football being played here, but the shooting boots have not been at their best.

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-6

Cillian O’Sullivan slots over a brilliant score from range, turning his man off the shoulder after receiving possession from Bryan Menton. It’s Meath’s first score since the 17th minute.

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-6

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half as Mayo surge forward in search of a late score. Aidan O’Shea battles through midfield and finds Cillian O’Connor, but Bryan Menton dashes in to provide a superb block.

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-6

A big blow for Meath as Andy McEntee is forced into a substitution before half-time. Mickey Newman appears to have picked up a block and he goes off, replaced by Shane Walsh off the bench.

Andy McEntee Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-7

Séamus Lavin with a super score to level proceedings. He outshines his team-mates in attack by venturing forward and slicing a lovely effort right between the posts. Expert kick from the corner back.

HALF-TIME: Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-7

We’re all square at the break, 0-7 to 0-7 between Mayo and Meath.

It’s been a fairly even contest, as the scoreboard reflects, but both sides will be desperately disappointed with their shooting exploits.

Meath’s defence has been in top four to keep Cillian O’Connor, Darren Coen and Jason Doherty relatively quiet, but Andy McEntee’s side have been poor at the other end with a number of needless wides.

The loss of Mickey Newman to injury just before the break will be a massive blow in the second period.

It’s finely balanced, more action to come at Croke Park very shortly!

Second-half: We’re back underway for another 35 minutes!

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-7

One change for Mayo at half-time as play gets back underway. Darren Coen makes way and 2017 Footballer of the Year Andy Moran is brought into the full forward line. 

Mayo 0-7 Meath 0-8

Shane Walsh, who was brought on just before half-time, settles himself into the game with a pinpoint free in front of goal to bring Meath ahead. Good score from the 19-year-old.

Mayo 0-8 Meath 0-8

Fergal Boland battles his way through the Meath defence, ducking and weaving past challenges before dropping the ball onto his left foot and finding the target. Level pegging again.

Mayo 0-8 Meath 0-8

Aidan O’Shea meanders past his marker with confidence and has a free shot at goal. But, rather uncharacteristically, O’Shea knocks the ball wide of the post on his weaker right foot. Poor effort.

Mayo 0-8 Meath 0-9

James Conlon takes possession following some good direct running from Cillian O’Sullivan. Conlon takes a step back to get a good look at the target and curls the ball over the bar. Meath lead by a point again.

Mayo 0-8 Meath 0-10

Shane Walsh sticks his second free of the afternoon over the bar. Mickey Newman was always going to be a massive loss from frees, but Walsh has stepped into his boots brilliantly. The Royals lead by two now.

Mayo 0-9 Meath 0-10

Cillian O’Connor slots over his second point of the game, again it’s from a free. Meath looking very, very confident out there in this second half and James Horan’s men will want to be careful.

Mayo 0-9 Meath 0-11

Seamus O’Shea is penalised for a foul on Shane Gallagher, who was bursting through from defence into attack. Shane Walsh steps up to take the free, and once again makes no mistake.

Mayo 0-9 Meath 0-11

Brilliant chance for a score for Cillian O’Sullivan right in front of goal. He plucks the ball from the air thanks to a great crossfield pass from Shane McEntee. O’Sullivan spins away from his man, but fails to hit the target. A poor miss.

Mayo 0-10 Meath 0-11

Lee Keegan with some good, hard running which earns Mayo a free. Cillian O’Connor steps up and knocks the ball over the bar on his right boot. His third score of the game and the deficit stands at just one point now.

Mayo 0-11 Meath 0-11

Superb score from O’Connor draws the sides level. Excellent play from Andy Moran sets O’Connor up and there’s a load roar from the travelling Mayo supporters as we’re back at level pegging.

Mayo 0-11 Meath 0-12

Séamus Lavin bursts forward through the heart of the Mayo defence and pings a great point over David Clarke’s crossbar. There may have been a goal chance on there for Lavin, but he did brilliantly to even work a point out of nothing.

Mayo 0-12 Meath 0-12

Andy Moran with a beautiful point. He beats his marker with a superb dummy, before kicking the ball with the outside of his right boot and over the bar. The 35-year-old is rolling back the years with football like that.

Mayo 0-13 Meath 0-12

Shane Walsh with a really poor free right in front of goal. He ought to be putting those away from that range, but Walsh’s strike drops into the arms of David Clarke. Mayo fly down the other end and Colm Boyle slots over.

Mayo 0-13 Meath 0-12

Walsh tries to make amends for his earlier miss with another free, but again it drops wide. Two big misses from the 19-year-old after he hit three sweet frees back-to-back-to-back.

Mayo 0-14 Meath 0-12

Bryan Menton glides another strike wide and it’s Meath’s sixth wide of the game, compared to Mayo’s seven. Andy McEntee’s side started this second half brightly but may be running out of time here as Lee Keegan slots another Mayo score over.

Mayo 1-15 Meath 0-12

GOAL! A classy point from Carr precedes a devastating goal for Mayo, courtesy of Kevin McLaughlin, who taps into an empty net following a brilliant attack which cut Meath to pieces. Lee Keegan popped a neat handpass to McLaughlin, who walked the ball around goalkeeper Andrew Colgan. A massive sucker punch.

Mayo 1-15 Meath 0-12

Meath’s goose might be cooked here with that McLaughlin goal. Andy McEntee’s side were always within touching distance, but the life has been sucked out of them now. They trail by six points with five minutes to go.

Mayo 1-16 Meath 0-12

Cillian O’Connor kicks another free over the bar and it’s his sixth point of the game, five from frees. Mayo lead by seven points now as the gap continues to widen.

Mayo 1-16 Meath 0-13

Shane Walsh cuts the deficit back to six points. It’s his fourth score of the game since replacing Mickey Newman just before half-time. Mayo bodies crowded around the goal-line anticipating a possible strike at goal by Walsh — but he taps over the bar.

Mayo 1-16 Meath 0-14

Another free from the right boot of Walsh from right in front of goal. Meath not going down without a fight here, but the clock is against them with just a minute or normal time left to play. 

Mayo 1-16 Meath 0-14

There will be five minutes of stoppage time to come. A goal chance looked like it might be on for Meath as Cillian O’Sullivan peeled away untracked. David Clarke read the pass early and came from his line, with Clarke and O’Sullivan colliding — earning the goalkeeper a free out.

Mayo 1-16 Meath 0-14

James Horan’s side are just wearing down the clock now, happy to recycle possession with handpasses to and fro trying to waste as much time as possible and keep Meath as far away from David Clarke’s goal as possible. Two minutes remaining.

Mayo 1-16 Meath 0-14

BLACK CARD! Meath goalkeeper Andrew Colgan is shown a black card with a minute of stoppage time left to go. Colgan was penalised for a body check on Cillian O’Connor, with Marcus Brennan now brought on in goal for the final few seconds. Penalty to come for Mayo.

Mayo 2-16 Meath 0-14

GOAL! Cillian O’Connor’s penalty is initially saved by Brennan, who has just been brought on, but O’Connor follows it up and manages to score with the re-bound. He brings his tally to 1-5 for the afternoon.

Mayo 2-17 Meath 0-14

A brilliant point to round off the afternoon for Mayo. Jason Doherty finds time and space a good distance out from goal and hammers a pinpoint effort between the posts.

FULL-TIME: Mayo 2-17 Meath 0-14

It’s all over at Croke Park and it’s a vital win for Mayo.

The sides were level pegging at seven points apiece at the break, but James Horan’s side went up a gear after the break and got the job done.

Their hopes of making the All-Ireland semi-finals continue, with Mayo’s meeting with Donegal now set to be an enticing shoot-out as we await their meeting with Kerry shortly at 4pm.

Thanks a million for joining us this evening — cya soon!

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