MEATH came from four points down with three minutes remaining to earn a dramatic draw against Armagh in their opening game in Group 3 of the TG4 All-Ireland SFC.

Caroline O’Hanlon kicked over a free in the 57th minute to extend Armagh’s lead to four points but credit to Meath they dug in at the end. A goal from substitute Shauna Ennis and then a point from Vikki Wall earned Shane McCormack’s side a draw.

Kelly Mallon opened the scoring inside the second minute of play. Meath edged ahead after four minutes of play before three points in a row including a lovely score from Niamh Reel saw Armagh go ahead by two in the seventh minute.

Meath were back in front in the 12th minute when Wall found the back of the net with a fine finish. Ciara Smyth followed that up with a neat point. Down the other end Meath keeper Robyn Murray brought off a good save to deny Aoife McCoy, the ball came back out to Niamh Henderson and she fired over.

McCoy found the back of the net in the 21st minute with an excellent strike to put Armagh back ahead. There were two in it minutes later when Reel kicked over a free.

Wall played the ball to Aoibhín Cleary in the 27th minute and she fired a brilliant strike to the net. Just on the stroke of half-time another Reel free levelled matters for the third time — Meath 2-4 Armagh 1-7.

Mallon and Duggan (free) traded points in the early exchanges of the second half. An excellent point from Clery put Meath ahead in the 39th minute. Minutes later Niamh Coleman played the ball to Mallon and she fired low to the net. Reel hit over her fourth free of the game to extend Armagh’s lead to four in the 43rd minute.

It was now advantage Armagh and Meath worked hard to get back into the game but the Orchard County’s defence stood firm. Duggan hit over a much needed score from a free in the 47th minute to put three between the sides.

The lead was four again in the 57th minute when O’Hanlon kicked over a free. She claimed the ball on the line when Duggan kicked a free but there was still time for late drama.

Scorers

Meath: V Wall 1-3 (1f), A Cleary 1-1, S Ennis 1-0, E Duggan 0-3 (2fs), C Smyth 0-1.

Armagh: N Reel 0-5 (4fs), K Mallon 1-2, A McCoy 1-1, N Henderson 0-2, C O’Hanlon 0-1 (f).

MEATH: R Murray; A Sheridan, M.K. Lynch, K Newe; A Cleary, S Wall, K Kealy; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth; E Duggan, V Wall, K Cole.
Subs: K Bermingham for Farrelly (38), S Ennis for Cole (45), C Lawlor for Kealy (47).

ARMAGH: A Carr; M Ferguson, C McNally, M McCann; E Druse, C Towe, G Ferguson; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon; L McConville, A McCoy, K Mallon; S Quigley, N Henderson, N Reel.
Subs: R Mulligan for Quigley (ht), M Lennon for C McNally (47), E Lavery for McCann (52).

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).