Meath 1-13 2-09 Limerick - As it Happened

Video

• Joanne Cantwell talks to Limerick boss Mickey O'Sullivan
• Victorious Meath boss Eamonn O'Brien talks to Joanne Cantwell
• Meath's man-of-the-match Chris O'Connor talks with Joanne Cantwell

20.46 Thanks for joining us today for that dramatic clash in Portlaoise. Meath go onto face Mayo next weekend in what will be the final quarter-final to be decided in this year's Senior Football Championship. Read our report from the game here.

We'll have matchtrackers for both of tomorrow's quarter-finals, and Dublin v Kerry on Monday, here at RTÉ.ie.

And of course you will be able to watch it on RTÉ Television and online on our GAA Media Player.

See you all tomorrow.

20.34 What a finish. Limerick players are distraught after such a fantastic effort but Meath will face Mayo next week's All-Ireland quarter-final.

FULL TIME: Meath 1-13 Limerick 2-09

70 + 1 min Stephen Lucey takes too many steps and the ball is Meath's just as he is about to send it over the bar.

70 +1 min Jim O'Donovan loses possession and Meath have one min to hang on....

69 min It goes wide and Limerick still have a chance. We are into two mins of added on time.

68 min Free to Meath in their own half is launched up. Looked like David Bray would swing the ball over but it is blocked for a 45. This would seal the win.....

66 min That incident has taken up two minutes, while another Limerick players is booked. Ryan sends the ball over. Eoin Hogan comes on for Brian Farrell for Limerick. Can Meath hold onto their one point lead?

Meath 1-13 Limerick 2-09

64 min Ger Collins does well to beat his man and is fouled by two Meath defenders. This should make it a one point lead for Meath. We've had another off-the-ball incident. Limerick goalkeeper is shown the yellow card and Meath's Stephen Bray too. Bray was booked earlier and he is sent off! Not sure if that was a straight red, it looked to have been.

63 min That has taken the wind out of Limerick's sails. This will be a gripping finish.

61 min Caomihe King is allowed to approach the Limerick goal and a simple fist-over gives Meath come breathing space.

Meath 1-13 Limerick 2-08

60 min The Limerick fans have found their voice, but unfortunatly for them their side fail to take a chance to level the game as the wind takes the ball to the right of the post.

58 min Stephen Kelly bursts down the right, the bounce rules out a goal chance but he fists the ball over and we have a one point game.

Meath 1-12 Limerick 2-08

56 min GOAL!! Kelly doesn't know whether to go for a point or kick it short. He kicks it right under the crossbar and as several players including the goalkeeper go for it, Jim O'Donovan manages to knock the ball into the net. Could have easily been a free-out and that decision will be questioned but there is two points in it now!

Meath 1-12 Limerick 2-07

55 min The Shannonsiders win a 45 and Stephen Kelly will take....

54 min Stephen Bray extends the Meath advantage after Nigel Crawford beats three Limerick players.

Meath 1-12 Limerick 1-07

52 min Very bad miss by Cian Ward. How crucial could that be? This is a real chance for Limerick, if they can close the gap to two or three points the nerves will increase in Eamon O'Brien's side.

50 min Meath threaten again but Limerick somehow hold on. With 20 minutes to go they will be thrilled to only be four points behind. Brian Farrell is pushed by Johnny McCarthy and you would expect Cian Ward to make it five points now.....

48 min There is a lot of that good work undone as Limerick allow Chris O'Connor to shoot over for an easy point. Ian Ryan goes downfield and attempts to bring it back to a three point defecit but the angle is too much and it goes wide of the right hand post.

Meath 1-11 Limerick 1-07

47 min GOAL! Seanie Buckley finds space on the left of the square, he is surrounded by Meath players who afraid to tackle him in case they give away a penalty and Buckley brilliantly sweeps the ball home.

Meath 1-10 Limerick 1-07

46 min That is three point in-a-row for Meath and that has really changed the game. Limerick have had chances in between each point and failure to take them may prove vital come full-time by the looks of things.

43 min Limerick look far more threatening in attack but they waste too good point chances. Ger Collins becomes the first Limerick man to see yellow, Brian Farrell with a monsterous point, struck from the left hand side and that gets a huge roar from the crowd in the Gaelic Grounds. It is a six-point game now.

Meath 1-10 Limerick 0-07

41 min But Chris O'Connor points for Meath, this half is being played at a much faster pace than the first. O'Connor took that well after nice play in midfield for The Royals.

Meath 1-09 Limerick 0-07

40 min Another exchange of points. Ger Collins converts a free from 20 yards.

Meath 1-08 Limerick 0-07

39 min Could have easily been a goal for Meath as Peader Byrne goes through after the Limerick players stopped for what could have been a foul on Brian Meade. Byrne strikes the ball over for a point

Meath 1-08 Limerick 0-06

37 min Limerick go straight down the fireld and good play by Galvin and Buckley sets up Ian Ryan and he brings the defecit back to four points.

Meath 1-07 Limerick 0-06

37 min But he makes up for it with a comfortable point after more very creative play by Cian Ward. Farrell looked as if he had ran into trouble but he did well to find his feet and point it.

Meath 1-07 Limerick 0-05

36 min The second-half is underway, 20 seconds in Brian Farrell has a very poor attempt for a point but it goes yards wide.

Half-time: Meath 1-06 Limerick 0-05: Limerick will be thankful for Kelly's scores because they would be out of the game otherwise. This was a poor display from both teams but Meath will be slightly happier. The Royals are not in the quarter-finals yet but you would expect them to improve in the second half against an uncertain and shaky Limerick side.

35 min Bit of quality there from Stephen Kelly, though it looked as if he had held onto the ball a bit too long. He finally finds space for himself and kicks for a point.

Meath 1-06 Limerick 0-05

33 min Limerick's defence is all over the place but the Royals give the ball away. Very scrappy at the minute. Stephen Kelly's woeful attempt from a free gifts the ball back to Meath soon after. Chris O'Connor comes away with the ball but Joe Sheridan struggles to keep it in and as we approach half-time neither team is making a great impression.

31 min Brothers Stephen and David Bray combine to extend Meath's lead. David is left with all the room in the world to loft the ball over the bar. That was too easy

Meath 1-06 Limerick 0-04

30 min Limerick lose the ball as they try to carve out a chance of a score with John Galvin trying to do too much and is surrounded by Meath players.

29 min Mayo will not be too worried by this game so far, both teams look far from their best. That was Meath's first score in 11 minutes, as they register another wide through David Bray.

28 min Comedy of errors from the Limerick defence and Stephen Bray takes advantage to fist the ball over the bar.

Meath 1-05 Limerick 0-04

26 min Limerick just aren't as fluid as Meath in attack. Collins gives the ball away and leaves Stephen Kelly with a difficult chance for a point which he fails to take. That should have been an easier opportunity and a point. Meanwhile Cian Ward is booked for an off-the-ball incident.

25 min Stephen Kelly makes it a three point game as he stabs the ball over the bar. Nice free.

Meath 1-04 Limerick 0-04

23 min Cynical foul from Peader Byrne as he brings down Seanie Buckley. It will be a yellow card for Meath, both of their wing-forwards have been noted now. A point should follow from the free.....

22 min Cian Ward goes for a point from touch from nearly 50 metres but it is a bit too ambitious with the swirling wind and goes wide.

20 min John Galvin goes to within inches of a goal when his long run ends in a shot at a tight angle. Mickey 'Ned' O'Sullivan is very animated on the sideline, that would have changed the complexion of the game completely.

19 min Limerick in attack again but Anthony Moyles breaks it up. Stephen Bray fouls a Limerick man when they regain possession with a clothesline.

18 min Limerick commit men forward as Stokes and Kelly combine to give Limerick their first point from play. The Royals are still well on top though....

Meath 1-04 Limerick 0-03

16 min Cian Ward, just inside the '45' line drops the ball into the box and Stephen Bray makes space for himself to easily strike the ball over the bar.

Meath 1-04 Limerick 0-02

15 min Majestic from Stephen Bray. 45 metres out, he uses to wind to curl the ball over the bar.

Meath 1-03 Limerick 0-02

14 min First wide of the game and Limerick's Ian Ryan is the culprit. They look placed for a defensive game and that goal may have ruined their plans.

11 min GOAL! Excellent skill from Cian Ward as he dribbles 'soccer style' in on goal and places the ball past the goalkeeper. Staunch GAA men will shed a tear with that one, but it was a fantastic goal.

Meath 1-02 Limerick 0-02

10 min Ger Collins levels it up from a free after Harrington is fouled about 15 yards from goal.

Meath 0-02 Limerick 0-02

8 min Nicely taken by Ward. Over the bar, despite the strong breeze.

Meath 0-02 Limerick 0-01

8 min Superb pass by Cian Ward to slip through Peader Byrne on goal but Sean Kiely saves excellently to push the ball wide of the post. Ward now with the 45....

6 min Great break by Stephen Lavin but he gives the ball away and it will be a free out to Meath.

5 min Brian Farrell is fouled right on the 'D' and Cian Ward secures his 15th point of the Championship.

Meath 0-01 Limerick 0-01

4 min Good defence by Meath as both teams look to settle. Nigel Crawford is looking to get on the ball constantly.

3 min Remember you can watch the game live on RTÉ Two now or here on our GAA Media player.

2 min Ian Ryan, who scored 3-07 against Meath last year, converts the free and Limerick lead.

Meath 0-00 Limerick 0-01

1 min Even start but Limerick will get the chance to open the scoring with a free from about 20 yards out on the left.

18.58 The players make their way out onto the pitch. Padraig Hughes is our ref, he gets set to throw the ball in.

18.30 Welcome to RTÉ.ie's matchtracker for the match in the Gaelic Grounds. Throw-in is at 7pm.