Meath set up Dublin clash after beating Longford

Meath held off a late fightback from Longford to advance to a Leinster quarter-final clash with Dublin.

The Royals were leading by 11 points entering the final minute but 1-02 without reply saw Longford cut the gap to six points. Meath ended the game with a late point from James Conlon while Longford ended the game with 14 men after substitute Daire Duggan received a black card.

The physicality and gulf in class evident in the early exchanges of the game. Meath had five attacks in the opening eight minutes and scored from every one of them. James Conlon fired over the first point with just over 20 seconds gone on the clock. Cathal Hickey followed that up with a point.

Longford's first point came from Daniel Reynolds in the third minute. Meath restored their two point advantage in the fourth minute before Darren Gallagher kicked over a free.

The Royals then took control of the game. Points from Eoghan Frayne and Jordan Morris (two) extended their lead to five in the 12th minute. Longford created a goal chance in the 21st minute; Gallagher played the ball to Daniel Mimnagh but his effort was blocked.

After going over 10 minutes without a score Frayne scored a point to put five between the sides. Ronan Jones added another point before Meath raised the green flag in the 26th minute. Matthew Costello with the pass and Conlon with the finish.

Longford got a much needed point from Dessie Reynolds. Jayson Matthews kicked over a free but that was cancelled out by a Shane Walsh point. In the 30th minute Longford grabbed a goal; Cathal McCabe attempted to go for a point, it fell to Matthews who turned and fired to the top corner of the net.

Joseph Hagan followed up with a point to cut the gap to five points in the 31st minute.

Meath ended