Meath advanced to the Tailteann Cup final after a second half splurge of sensational scores was enough to defeat Antrim, despite a thrilling fightback.

This, the first of the Tailteann Cup semi-finals began frenetically with scores raining down in the opening half at Croke Park.

Two early points from Adam Loughran and Dominic McEnhill fired Antrim two points up early on but Aaron Lynch replied in the third minute for an early 0-1 to 0-2 scoreline.

Antrim goalkeeper, Michael Byrne, battered over a long-range free but again the two-point buffer didn’t last long, Jack Flynn firing over the Meath reply.

When Loughran pinged over his second score, teammate Patrick McBride followed in, extending Antrim’s advantage out to three points.

Yet even that comfort zone was swiftly wiped out, Lynch galloping through and firing low, deadly accurate past Byrne to heave Meath level, stalemate at 1-2 to 0-5.

McEnhill then joined Loughran on a brace although Jordan Morris, just one of Meath’s main in-form scorers, and Matthew Costello quickly pointed as Meath moved ahead for the first time.

But, in a game that seesawed chaotically, Meath defender Harry O’Higgins was adjudged to have made a late foul as Antrim were awarded a penalty. 

Up stepped McEnhill who confidently swept it home as the visitors retook the lead.

Meath coming back from behind was a recurring theme of the tie though and over seven minutes of the closing of the half, they levelled through Lynch’s sixth point and deadly accuracy from Jack O’Connor’s effort. 

With the half’s last act, Byrne fizzled a second free over the bar as the sides went in split by the hair’s width of one point at half time.

Despite Ruari McCann registering first on the scoresheet, there was a Meath blizzard of attacking which turned the tide firmly their way.

Conor Gray scored before Flynn belted his second point of the game over to move level once more.

Costello then tapped high from close range putting Meath one point clear,

A margin which widened when Jordan Morris was sprung through on goal on a rapid counterattack, Morris’ dancing feet evading defenders and lashing home to make it 2-9 to 1-8. 

James McEntee, who had been kept quiet, pointed for a five-point lead which was increased to six after Cathal Hickey benefited from unselfish play by Morris to tee him up.

Morris then bagged himself a point as Antrim were faced with a blur of intensity making it six points plus Morris’ goal, a significant nine-point total of unanswered scores as they failed to stem the bleeding of their Tailteann Cup hopes.

Enjoying themselves immensely, Meath rang there, comparatively, luxury bench as Morris’ second point eased them eight points ahead.

To their credit, Antrim did then rouse themselves, Loughran and McCann sending their third and second points accurately over respectively, but their body language suggested they knew the extent of a costly second half start.

That wasn’t deterring them a resilient team though and their own momentum grew when McEnhill pointed a free. 

Half of Croke Park then erupted in celebration, McBride putting the ball into the net after replacement Conor Johnston’s shot hit the crossbar and fell kindly where McBride buried it from a yard out. 

This set up a grandstand finish, Dermot McAleese ratcheting the tension up further as the defender’s point made it a one-point game with four minutes added on.

Timely enough, Costello scored Meath’s first, crucial, score in twelve minutes although McAleese kept his foot to the pedal with his one-point reducing second point.

But just when they needed them most, talisman Costello scored his fourth, backed up by Morris’ fifth point, big game contributions from big game players.

Despite Ohdran Eastwood pointing in the last play, Antrim had been left needing a goal and are left to rue the second half Meath tsunami that dug into such a deep deficit to begin with.  They will have plenty of admirers for the second half spirit, which may only be of scant consolation.

Meath march on into the final and on this evidence, the only certainty is that it’ll be a high-scoring affair, as they soar on to a date with destiny.