Welcome to Croke Park as we get set for the throw-in of a bumper weekend of Gaelic football. There’s five games coming up at this stadium between now and tomorrow evening, we’re following the action all the way.

First up it’s the Round 4B qualifier between Meath and Armagh at 5pm.

Here’s the Meath team named to start.

MEATH
1. Paddy O’Rourke (Skryne)

2. Michael Burke (Longwood)
3. Kevin Reilly (Navan O’Mahony’s)
4. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)

5. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore/Ashbourne)
6. Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey)
7. Donncha Tobin (Blackhall Gaels)

8. Brian Meade (Rathkenny)
9. Adam Flanagan (Clonard)

10. Damien Carroll (Ballinabrackey)
11. Brian McMahon (Ratoath)
12. Andrew Tormey (Donaghmore/Ashbourne)

13. David Bray (Navan O’Mahony’s)
14. Stephen Bray (Navan O’Mahony’s)
15. Michael Newman (Kilmainham)

And here’s Armagh’s starting fifteen.

ARMAGH
1. Philip McEvoy (Dromintee)

2. James Morgan (Crossmaglen Rangers)
3. Charlie Vernon (Armagh Harps)
4. Andy Mallon (Parnells)

5. Mark Shields (Whites Cross)
6. Brendan Donaghy (Clonmore)
7. Ciaran McKeever (Parnells – Captain)

8. Stephen Harold (Carrickcruppen)
9. Aaron Findon (St Peter’s)

10. Aidan Forker (Maghery)
11. Kevin Dyas (Dromintee)
12. Tony Kernan (Crossmaglen Rangers)

13. Kyle Carragher (Crossmaglen Rangers)
14. Stefan Campbell (Clann na Gael)
15. Jamie Clarke (Crossmaglen Rangers)

Plenty speculation about pre-match changes on both sides but nothing confirmed yet. Meath’s Graham Reilly and Armagh’s Ciaran McKeever may both be out of action, we’re hearing.

Mick O’Dowd will want a response from his players today after the horror show against Dublin in the Leinster final. Will he get it?

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Armagh may not be talking to the press but they’ll be hoping to express themselves on the pitch again today. Paul Grimley is a happy man after their recent qualifier victories over Tyrone and Roscommon.

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Both teams out on the pitch and getting set for action.

Here’s the match officials. The man in the middle is referee Rory Hickey with Conor Lane the linesman and standby referee while Anthony Nolan is the other linesman.

Here’s the Meath subs:

16. Conor McHugh, 17. Eoghan Harrington, 18. Shane O’Rourke, 19. Caolan Young, 20. Seamus Kenny, 21. Dalton McDonagh, 22. Graham Reilly, 23. Paddy Gilsenan, 24. Mark O’Sullivan, 25. Joey Wallace, 26. James McEntee.

And here’s the Armagh subs:

16. Tim Harney, 17. Rory Grugan, 18. Eugene McVerry, 19. Finnian Moriarty, 20. Michael Murray, 21. Brian Mallon, 22. Kieran Toner, 23. Stefan Forker, 24. Ethan Rafferty, 25. Aaron Kernan, 26. Feidhlim O’Neill.

The weather is grim here in Croke Park as rain cascades down. Not much of a crowd have braved the elements but we’re closing in on throw-in and there’s a quarter-final place at stake.

Shane O’Rourke comes into the Meath team for Kevin Reilly.

No Ciaran McKeever for Armagh with Aaron Kernan replacing him.

Game on and Armagh kick an early wide from Stephen Harold.

Meath can’t open the scoring either as Andrew Tormey shoots wide.

Yellow card for Stephen Harold after a hefty hit on Meath’s Damien Carroll.

No Ciaran McKeever in action for Armagh today.

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5 minutes in and we’re still awaiting the first score.

Meath 0-1 Armagh 0-0
5 mins – There it is, the opening point of the day and it’s supplied by Tormey for Meath as he shoots into an empty Hill 16.

Meath 0-2 Armagh 0-0
6 mins – Mickey Newman gets his first chance to point a free and he doesn’t let it go amiss. Meath have started positively.

Meath 0-2 Armagh 0-1
7 mins – Bad error by Meath goalkeeper Paddy O’Rourke as the balls spills out of his grasp and Jamie Clarke is alert to lash over a point.

Meath 0-2 Armagh 0-2
10 mins – And now we’re all square. Meath defence is asleep and no one picks up Aidan Forker allowing him to be fed before he swivels to point.

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Have to emphasize how bad a day it is here in Croke Park, conditions borrowed from the depths of winter as the teams slug it out on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Armagh 0-3 Meath 0-2
14 mins – Tony Kernan sends Armagh ahead by pointing a free but then Meath nearly get through for a goal. Mickey Newman unleashes a thunderous shot but the ball smacks against the crossbar much to the relief of Armagh.

Armagh have a few chances to build on their lead but Stefan Campbell shoots into the hands of O’Rourke, Aidan Forker kicks wide and then the same player hits the ball into the arms of O’Rourke again.

Armagh 0-4 Meath 0-2
17 mins – Curse of the commentator. Forker makes amends for those misses but shooting high over the bar. He’s making a fine impact so far for Armagh.

So Meath after a fine start have faded a bit out of this game. Armagh getting a grip on things and starting to control it. Early days yet though with 20 minutes gone.

Armagh’s shooting is letting them down, they’re not getting much purchase out of their kicks. Kernan has just landed two shots in succession short into the hands of Paddy O’Rourke.

Armagh 0-5 Meath 0-2
24 mins – No doubt about Armagh’s best forward today as Aidan Forker hooks over another point with his left foot. Good play by Tony Kernan the chance to set that one up.

That’s superb play by Paddy O’Rourke as he claws the ball down from going over the bar after Forker shoots and Mickey Burke sweeps in to clear.

Armagh 0-6 Meath 0-2
27 mins – That’s really lovely football by Armagh. Some good foot passing from the likes of Dyas and Campbell culminates in Kyle Carragher slotting a quality point.

Armagh 0-7 Meath 0-2
28 mins – Tony Kernan bangs over a free and Armagh go five clear.

Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-2
29 mins – Now Stefan Campbell gets in on the scoring act for Armagh and that’s eight points on the bounce.

Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-3
31 mins – That’s a point that was badly needed by Meath. Newman kicks an impressive free.

Sub: Brian Meade goes off for Meath as Graham Reilly comes on.

Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-4
32 mins – Better again from Meath before the interval as David Bray lays it off to Damien Carroll and he curls over a left-foot shot.

Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-5
33 mins – That’s why Graham Reilly has been brought on as he hoofs over a sublime point for Meath.

Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-6
34 mins – And another from Meath and it’s David Bray who converts a really difficult free from the Cusack Stand side.

Nearly another for Meath as Tormey swings in a shot that hits the upright and collides off the shoulder of Charlie Vernon before spinning out for a ’45.

Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-7
35 mins – And Newman bangs over the ’45. Amazingly Meath are now only a point adrift.

Half-Time: Armagh 0-8 Meath 0-7

A bizarre opening period with Armagh completely dominant for long stages as they went 0-8 to 0-2 ahead but then Meath kicked five points on the bounce to cut the gap.

Here’s the first-half scorers:

Armagh: Aidan Forker 0-3, Tony Kernan 0-2 (0-2f), Kyle Carragher, Stefan Campbell, Jamie Clarke 0-1 each.

Meath: Michael Newman 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Andrew Tormey, Damien Carroll, David Bray (0-1f), Graham Reilly 0-1 each.

Rain still pouring down here and the floodlights are on at headquarters.

Teams back out for the second-half action.

Meath 0-8 Armagh 0-8
36 mins – And Meath are level straight away as Graham Reilly lobs over a superb point.

Armagh 0-9 Meath 0-8
36 mins – But Armagh respond in style with Aaron Kernan pointing after a well-worked move.

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Yellow cards for Shane O’Rourke and Aaron Findon.

Sub: Armagh change at the break with 20. Michael Murray (Cullyhanna) on for James Morgan.

Armagh 0-10 Meath 0-8
38 mins – Armagh have reacted well with Tony Kernan scoring now.

Armagh 0-10 Meath 0-9
39 mins – Really good shooting now on both sides with David Bray on target now for Meath.

Armagh 0-10 Meath 0-10
41 mins – Paddy O’Rourke comes upfield for Meath and strikes over a great point from a  55 yard free.

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Armagh 0-11 Meath 0-10
44 mins – Aaron Kernan shows his class as he skips through the Meath defence and launches over another quality point.

Armagh 0-12 Meath 0-10
47 mins – Armagh cut Meath apart again with penetrating runs down the centre with Mark Shields finishing it off with a fine point.

Bad miss from a free by Newman and Meath still trail by two points.

At the other end, there’s a poor shot by Armagh’s Kevin Dyas from a really favorable position.

Sub: Meath bring on 17. Eoghan Harrington (Wolfe Tones) for Carroll.

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Sub: 17. Rory Grugan (Ballymacnab) on for Armagh for Carragher.

Armagh 0-13 Meath 0-10
56 mins – Stefan Campbell splits the posts and Armagh have a healthy advantage now.

Armagh 0-14 Meath 0-10
58 mins – Now it’s a four point lead for Armagh as Kevin Dyas points.

Sub: 21. Dalton McDonagh (Na Fianna) on for Meath for Stephen Bray.

Armagh 0-15 Meath 0-10
60 mins – Campbell points again and Armagh are flying.

Sub: 21. Brian Mallon (Tir na n-Og) is on for Armagh for Forker.

Sub: 25. Joey Wallace (Ratoath) for David Bray for Meath.

Armagh 0-15 Meath 0-11
61 mins – Now it’s a four point lead for Armagh as Paddy O’Rourke smacks over a great free for Meath.

Armagh 0-16 Meath 0-11
63 mins – Brian Mallon points for Armagh and they go five clear.

Armagh 0-16 Meath 0-12
63 mins – Terrific point from Graham Reilly to give Meath some hope.

Sub: 23. Paddy Gilsenan (Oldcastle) comes on for the injured Dalton McDonagh for Meath while Brian Meade is back on for Shane O’Rourke.

Armagh 0-17 Meath 0-12
65 mins – Brian Mallon has made a great impact since coming on and he nabs another point for Armagh.

Armagh 0-17 Meath 0-13
67 mins – Newman pops over a late free for Meath.

Sub: 23. Stefan Forker (Maghery) for Tony Kernan on the Armagh team.

Armagh 0-18 Meath 0-13
71 mins – That should be the insurance point as Stefan Forker converts for Armagh.

Full-Time: Armagh 0-18 Meath 0-13

And that’s it, victory for Armagh and defeat for Meath.

Armagh go through to the quarter-finals while Meath bow out of the 2014 championship. Deserved victory for an Armagh team that finished really strongly.

That’s all from us, we’re shifting our focus now to Monaghan against Kildare.