Roscommon and Meath played out a thrilling draw at a sunny but windy King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park to keep both sides very much alive in terms of progression from Group 2.
Both sides kicked five two-pointers apiece in a game of fluctuating fortunes as the home side, led by 2023 All-Star Enda Smith, recovered from a five-point-interval deficit to deservedly rescue a share of the spoils.
There were chances to win it for both teams, and it took a brilliant tackle from Meath full-back Seán Rafferty to deny Ben O'Carroll what looked like a certain winner after the hooter had sounded.
James Conlon was superb for the visitors in the opening half, but Smith was Roscommon's hero with three of his side's two-pointers after the break, despite missing a 41st minute penalty.
Ruairí Kinsella raised his side’s first orange flag with the outside of his right boot in the fifth minute before Eoghan Frayne opened up a three-point gap after the visitors capitalised on a Roscommon turnover
But Roscommon wiped out that deficit when Senan Lambe set up Diarmuid Murtagh for a well-taken goal after seven minutes.
Dylan Ruane nudged Roscommon in front after they worked the ball upfield from goalkeeper Conor Carroll but the excellent James Conlon, who scored 0-05 from play during a productive opening 35 minutes, got off the mark to bring the sides level.
In the 15th minute, Roscommon struck for a second goal when Shane Cunnane found Ben O’Carroll raiding in behind the Meath rearguard, and the St. Brigid’s forward produced an assured finish past Billy Hogan.
Meath began to win the midfield battle, and Roscommon’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of Niall Higgins to injury.
Conlon added a couple of rapid-fire points before Daire Cregg replied for the Rossies after Lambe grabbed primary possession in the middle of the park.
But Meath began to flex their muscles, mostly off Roscommon turnovers and their dominance around the middle.
Conlon and Conor Duke sent over a couple of two-pointers in jig time, while Jordan Morris also found the range to open up a 0-12 to 2-03 gap.
Menton arced over the Royals’ fourth two-pointer of the half, and Conlon soon added to his tally to stretch his side’s buffer to six points.
Cregg grabbed a much-needed score for Roscommon before Morris and Ciaráin Murtagh, a free on the hooter, left it 0-16 to 2-05 in favour of Meath at the change of ends.
The second half was laden with drama as Smith put a missed 41st minute penalty behind him to spearhead his side’s recovery.
Billy Hogan’s 46th-minute two-point free from 45 metres, following earlier point from Seán Coffey and Frayne, left Meath 0-20 to 2-09 ahead but Robbie Brennan’s side would only trouble the scoreboard once more.
Diarmuid Murtagh kicked a couple of two-pointers, while Smith added another to leave the Rossies ahead by the bare minimum with nine minutes remaining.
Kinsella restored parity, as both sides were left to rue missed chances in the final five minutes.
Roscommon: Conor Carroll, Niall Higgins, Colm Neary, David Murray; Ronan Daly, Brian Stack, Senan Lambe (0-01); Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane; Dylan Ruane (0-01), Ciaráin Murtagh (0-01, 1f), Enda Smith (0-06 3tp); Diarmuid Murtagh (1-4 2tp), Daire Cregg (0-02), Ben O’Carroll (1-00).
Subs: Pearse Frost for Higgins (14), Donie Smith for Ciaráin Murtagh (49), Cian McKeon for Ruane (49), Keith Doyle for Nolan (57), Ruaidhrí Fallon for Lambe (64).
Meath: Billy Hogan (0-02, 1 2pf); Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keogan, Seán Coffey (0-01), Ciarán Caulfield; Adam O’Neill, Bryan Menton (0-02, 1tp); Conor Duke (0-02, 1tp), Ruairí Kinsella (0-03, 1 2p), Mathew Costello (0-01, 1f); Jordan Morris (0-02), James Conlon (0-06, 1tp), Eoghan Frayne (0-02).
Subs: Cathal Hickey for Duke (55), Keith Curtis for Frayne (59), Conor Gray for Menton (64), James McEntee for Lavin (65), Eoin Harkin for O’Neill (67),
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down).
