Welcome to Croke Park as we commence the build up to the last of the three matches on today’s bill.  Improving Meath certainly rattled Dublin in the Leinster decider, but they meet a Tyrone outfit that is developing nicely.  Three wins in the qualifiers over Offaly, Roscommon, and Kildare have injected Tyrone with both hope and momentum.  They hit Croke Park keen to advance to August football again.

Mickey Harte has made no secret about the ‘real stuff’ beginning on the famous Bank Holiday weekend.  Meath, though, clearly intend to be involved in the last eight too.  So it is all to play for and stay with us for the action.

No word of any changes yet so we currently expect the teams to line out as follows:

MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keogan, Kevin Reilly, Bryan Menton; Padraic Harnan, Mickey Burke, Seamus Kenny; Brian Meade, Conor Gillespie; Eamonn Wallace, Damien Carroll, Graham Reilly; Stephen Bray, Joe Sheridan, Mickey Newman.

TYRONE: Pascal McConnell; Ryan McKenna, Conor Clarke, Cathal McCarron; Ciaran McGinley, Peter Harte, Conor Gormley; Colm Cavanagh, Sean Cavanagh; Mattie Donnelly, Mark Donnelly, Joe McMahon; Darren McCurry, Stephen O’Neill, Martin Penrose.

REFEREE: Maurice Deegan (Laois).

Plenty of questions will be answered over the next couple of hours.  Can Meath build on a solid provincial campaign?  Are Tyrone emerging as the real deal once more?  Will the Royals be able to cope with Tyrone’s runners?  Will Eamonn Wallace’s blistering speed do damage?

Decent numbers from Meath and Tyrone gathering at Croker watching the end of a highly entertaining Galway versus Cork battle.  Alan Mulholland’s Tribesmen lead by three with 22 minutes remaining.

Tyrone somehow nearly always manage to reinvent themselves for a qualifier journey, but they face a truly tricky test this evening.  Meath will feel, though, that they can make the quarter finals too.  Mick O’Dowd has been safe and sensible and his Royal panel have bought into the new regime so far.

The shock is on in the second match at headquarters.  Galway three in front with 10 on the clock.

Cork goal in Croker.  Extra-time a possibility – which would impact on the start time for Meath v Tyrone.

There won’t be any need for extra-time here, Meath v Tyrone will start at 7.  Cork finishing well.  Galway just don’t have enough depth in their panel.

The Artane Band are out, Galway and Cork players are departing from the field.  The warm up cones are being set up.  Twenty five minutes to throw-in.

Getting a small bit nippy here. The Upper tier of the Hogan Stand can be a fridge in February or March.  Not that bad today, but tropical it aint.

Meath on the pitch and now they have been joined by Tyrone, who are getting their team photograph taken.  Will it be used in the All Ireland quarter final match programme?

Throw-in edging closer here.  Eight minutes away from now the battle will start.  How will Tyrone match up with the Meath attack?  That is one of the things we will be keeping an eye on.

Good Championship roar at the end of the National Anthem.  Ready to rock at HQ.

Interesting here.  Conor Gormley will be a sweeper for Tyrone.  Joe Sheridan gone to centre forward being policed by Peter Harte.  Match on.

Tyrone have Cathal McCarron on Stephen Bray.  Padraic Harnan currently the spare man in Meath’s defence.  Conor Gormley the Tyrone sweeper.

Fast and physical early on.  Hefty collisions all over the shop.

No score in the first four minutes, but Meath probing.  They have squandered two chances.  The Royals winning lots of possession at centrefield.

This has the makings of a genuine tactual duel on the line.  Most of the match ups are tasty.  Donal Keogan is on Darren McCurry.  Kevin Reilly on Stephen O’Neill.  Those two carry huge importance.

Goal for Meath!

Meath 1-0 Tyrone 0-0: 7 mins – We suggested pre match that Eamonn Wallace could have an impact here.  He has, bursting through to blast a brilliant seventh minute goal for the Royals.

Meath 1-0 Tyrone 0-1: 9 mins - Darren McCurry replies with a free for Tyrone.  That score was required.

Meath 1-0 Tyrone 0-2: 10 mins – This game is moving along at a nice clip.  Mattie Donnelly has kicked a fine point on the run for Tyrone.

Meath 1-1 Tyrone 0-2: 12 mins – Mickey Newman’s free taking was a key feature for Meath in Division Three of the NFL.  Newman is bringing that form into the summer.  A splendid long range effort off the sod.

Meath 1-1 Tyrone 0-2: 15 mins – Mickey Newman has just dragged a free wide from an acute angle, but this match has been lively.

Meath 1-1 Tyrone 0-3: 17 mins - The first sight of Stephen O’Neill’s class.  O’Neill gathered a sweet Peter Harte delivery and knocked it over on the turn.

Meath 1-2 Tyrone 0-3: 19 mins - Mickey Newman lofts a free from a difficult angle.

Meath 1-2 Tyrone 0-4: 20 mins - Darren McCurry curls over a free with a delightful swing of the left boot from just under the Hogan.

Meath 1-2 Tyrone 0-5: 22 mins - Sean Cavanagh restores parity with a free for Tyrone.

For those with an interest in the statistical side of the game.  Meath have scored 1-2 from six chances in the first quarter, Tyrone 0-5 from 7.

Tyrone 0-6 Meath 1-2: 24 mins – Sean Cavanagh nails a free from a similar position near the Cusack Stand.  Tyrone shading the last 10 minutes or so, the Cavanagh’s prompting them from the middle.

Tyrone 0-7 Meath 1-2: 27 mins – Sean Cavanagh clips a third free in a row, Tyrone have hit four on the spin.

Tyrone 0-8 Meath 1-2: 28 mins – Leading by example Sean Cavanagh has rifled over a superb point from play.  Tyrone motoring smoothly now.  Five points unanswered – utterly dominant at the moment.

Want to know how hard Meath are finding it now?  Thirteen Tyrone players inside their own half.  Meath unable to get shots off never mind scores.  The Royals haven’t registered from play since Eamonn Wallace’s seventh minute goal. Half-time is five minutes away.

Tyrone 0-9 Meath 1-3: 31 mins – Mickey Newman landed a 45 to briefly disturb Tyrone, who had been dictating the tempo.  Sean Cavanagh responds with another beauty from play.

Tyrone 0-10 Meath 1-4: 34 mins - Stephen Bray has kicked an improbable point for Meath, but Mattie Donnelly then hits one for the Red Hands.

Half-time Tyrone lead 0-11 to 1-4. Darren McCurry splits the uprights with a 45 to give Tyrone a deserved four point advantage at the break.

From 15 scoring chances Tyrone have registered 0-11.  In the modern game, that is smashing efficiency.  Meath have hit 1-4 from 8 and five of those have come from dead ball situations.  Those nuggets of information simply capture how in control Tyrone have been since their somewhat shaky start.

Scorers for Tyrone: Sean Cavanagh 0-5 (2fs), Darren McCurry 0-3 (2f, 145), Mattie Donnelly 0-2, Stephen O’Neill 0-1.

Scorers for Meath: Eamonn Wallace 1-0, Mickey Newman 0-3 (2f, 145), Stephen Bray 0-1.

So can Tyrone continue to be so clinical in the second period?  Is there a kick in Meath?  Old school defiance style, perhaps. Presently it is not looking good for the Royals, but they have launched Croke Park comeback missions before.

32,761 - the official attendance at Croke Park for the triple header.

Substitution for Tyrone-Mark Donnelly replaced by Aidan Cassidy.

Tyrone 0-11 Meath 1-5: 36 mins - Encouraging second half start for Meath as Mickey Newman bangs over his fourth point of the evening.

Tyrone 0-12 Meath 1-5: 38 mins - Every time Sean Cavanagh has been asked to do something, he has just done it.  Cavanagh has stroked over another free.

Penalty for Meath!

Goal for Meath! Mickey Newman steps up and rattles the Tyrone net.

Tyrone 0-12 Meath 2-5: 39 mins - It really is game on now.  Conor Gormley fouled Seamus Kenny in the square and Mickey Newman expertly converts the resultant penalty.

Joe Sheridan replaced by Brian Farrell for Meath.

Tyrone 0-12 Meath 2-6: 45 mins – There certainly is a kick in Meath.  Eamonn Wallace has kicked an excellent point to restore parity.  Suddenly Tyrone aren’t as cool and composed.

Tyrone 0-12 Meath 2-6: 47 mins - This match is being played at a blistering pace.  Meath’s decent travelling contingent are enjoying the third quarter so far.

Tyrone 0-12 Meath 2-6: 50 mins - Tyrone craft a goal chance as substitute Aidan Cassidy releases Colm Cavanagh, who is denied by Paddy O’Rourke.  Darren McCurry kicks the subsequent 45 wide.

Peadar Byrne in for Damien Carroll for Meath, Dermot Carlin replaces Ryan McKenna for Tyrone.

Meath 2-7 Tyrone 0-12: 52 mins – How do Meath unearth forwards from almost nowhere?  Eamonn Wallace continues to do damage this summer, he has now claimed 1-2 this evening.  Pacy and polished.

Tyrone 0-13 Meath 2-7: 53 mins – Replacement Aidan Cassidy puts Tyrone level again.  Worryingly for them, though, is the fact that they only took one chance from seven in the third quarter.  They were far slicker before the interval.

Tyrone 0-14 Meath 2-7: 55 mins - Sean Cavanagh is ice cool scoring a pressure free.  Tyrone lead with 15 on the clock.  It is delicately poised.

Tyrone 0-15 Meath 2-7: 57 mins – Darren McCurry, a player regarded highly by Mickey Harte, has hit a tidy point from play, who are getting some joy up front.

Tyrone 0-16 Meath 2-8: 59  mins - Darren McCurry and Eamonn Wallace trade points as we enter the final furlong.

Tyrone 0-16 Meath 2-9: 62 mins – What an absorbing match this has been.  Mickey Newman scores a free to leave the minimum between the teams.

Tyrone 0-16 Meath 2-9: 65 mins - This is going down to the wire.  Martin Penrose has just been replaced by Kyle Coney.  For Meath their great stalwart Seamus Kenny has made way for Ciaran Lenihan.

Tyrone 0-16 Meath 2-9: 67 mins - Meath have squandered a couple of chances to get back on terms.  Goalkeeper Paddy O’Rourke fired a mammoth free wide and Wallace has since struck the post.  The margins.

Tyrone 0-17 Meath 2-9: 70 minutes - Sean Cavanagh adds a sublime free kick to his account.

Tyrone’s Stephen O’Neill sent off for a second booking.

Three minutes additional time to be played.

Tyrone 0-17 Meath 2-9: 70 mins - Tyrone just need to avoid conceding a goal.  That is their mission in the closing 90 seconds.

Meath winning frees in the scoring zone, but they need a goal.

Tyrone 0-17 Meath 2-9: Full-time. A thrilling match ends in a welter of excitement.  The Royals are out, Tyrone in the last eight.  Mickey Harte proving what a shrewd sideline operator he is.

Scorers for Tyrone: Sean Cavanagh 0-8 (5fs), Darren McCurry 0-5 (3f, 145), Mattie Donnelly 0-2, Stephen O’Neill 0-1, Aidan Cassidy 0-1.

Scorers for Meath: Mickey Newman 1-5 (1-0 pen, 4fs, 145), Eamonn Wallace 1-3, Stephen Bray 0-1.

Thanks for joining us at Croke Park.  A thoroughly enjoyable day at headquarters.  Three matches, done and dusted.  We will head for Thurles tomorrow for three more.  The Irish sporting summer is alive and kicking.