Amazing Cilles make it to Croker after semi thriller

Joe Sweeney particularly solid at the back, while further afield Niall Ronan, Reilly, Conlon and O’Byrne were in inspirational form.

Reilly set up Conlon with the simple task of slapping the ball to the net within two minutes of the restart to give Cille’s a dream start to the second half. Kieran McGeary and Reilly swapped points after that before Pomeroy were given a lifeline as Colhoun was footblocked as he attempted a goal effort, resulting in a penalty.

Frank Burns made no mistake from the spot kick and shortly afterwards the same player pointed to leave it 2-8 to 1-7 and game very much on.

It got even better for the Tyrone men on 44 minutes when John Loughran soloed through to blast to the net. Then on the stroke of the three quarter-way stage Burns shot over the equaliser.

Pomeroy had established supremacy at midfield at that stage and were running menacingly at the Cille’s rearguard. They had raced three points clear - pointed frees from the boot of Burns and one from Colhoun - by the 55th minute, leaving the Cilles in real trouble.

A moment of magic from Conlon when finding the unmarked Reilly with a quick free caught the Pomeroy rearguard out and sub Conor O’Byrne eventually finished to the net to put the game back in the melting pot.

Ryan O’Loughran restored the lead for Pomeroy a minute later, but in a frantic finish Cille’s responded in magnificent style, with McCloskey first on the mark before Brennan showed nerves of steel to point his side towards a Croke Park decider. FOLLOWING a number of preliminary rounds last weekend, the Meath club scene is back in earnest, with ties in all three knockout competitions - the Feis, Corn Na Boinne and Tailteann Cup - starting this Thursday evening.

That match is in the Tailteann Cup where St Mary’s Donore travel to take on Carnaross at 7.30pm. Feis Cup holders Donaghmore/Ashbourne lay their crown on the line when they travel to Brews Hill to take on O’Mahony’s on Friday evening. This is a big tie for the holders who are likely to lose a number of players from last year - James Colgan and Michael Deegan to inter-county transfers - and they will also be without their Meath contingent for this one.

Also on Friday evening, new St Colmcille’s boss Des Lane will lock horns with his old club Rathkenny in Piltown. Duleek/ Bellewstown are at home to Dunshaughlin, while Skryne entertain Dunboyne on Saturday.

With Meath in action against Kildare in the opening round of the NFL in Pairc Tailteann at 2pm, all of the Sunday games have an 11.30 throw-in. They include Syddan against St Ultan’s and Curraha playing Trim in the Corn Na Boinne, while their is a big north Meath derby in the Tailteann Cup, with Drumconrath at home to Kilmainhamwood.

In the Feis Cup games on Sunday, Summerhill - who defeated St Patrick’s 1-15 to 2-7 - and Wolfe Tones, who overcame Na Fianna 3-10 to 0-12 in preliminary rounds, take on Blackhall Gaels and Seneschalstown respectively. Carnaross v St Mary’s, G Skelly. O’Mahonys v Donaghmore/Ashbourne, D Gough. St Colmcille’s v Rathkenny, (8.0) L O’Brien. Skryne v Dunboyne, Padraic Coyle; Duleek-Bellewstown v Dunshaughlin, J Gordon; St Michael’s v Walterstown, P Clarke; Ballinlough v Longwood, M Quinn. St Vincent’s v Cortown, B Campbell; Moynalty v St Brigid’s, S Kerley; Nobber v Oldcastle, C Reilly. Pairc Tailteann: Meath v Kildare, Allianz NFL Division 2, 2.0, C Branagan (Down) Ratoath v Moynalvey, D Coldrick; Gaeil Colmcille v Simonstown Gaels, L Reddy; Summerhill v Blackhall Gaels, M Quinn; Wolfe Tones v Seneschalstown, Patrick Coyle. Syddan v St Ultan’s, P Sheridan; Dunderry v Castletown, B Heaney; Drumbaragh v Ballinabrackey, S O’Connor; Curraha v Trim, P Mooney; Ballivor v Bective, P Nelis. Boardsmill v Clonard, P Melia; Clann na nGael v Slane, J Plunkett, Drumconrath v Kilmainhamwood, M Griffin; Moylagh v Meath Hill, M Dawson; Dunsany v Kilbride, S Gahan.