Meath strike late to draw with Armagh in All-Ireland Ladies opener

Meath and Armagh battled to a draw in their All-Ireland series opener in Navan

Meath and Armagh played out a thrilling 3-8 to 2-11 draw in their All-Ireland Ladies SFC opener at Pairc Tailteann.

The Orchard County led by four with less than three minutes left to play before substitute Shauna Ennis hit the net for the hosts and Vikki Wall kicked an equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game.

In a meeting of the two big hitters in Group Three it was level at the break as 2-4 played 1-7.

Wall hit the first goal of the game, punishing some slack Armagh defensive play on 11 minutes.

Aoife McCoy replied with a major for the Ulster champions before Aoibhinn Cleary added a second home goal on the whistle.

Armagh, who contested this years Division One league final, outscored their hosts 1-4 to 0-1 in the 15 minutes after half-time with Niamh Reel and McCloy on target before Kelly Mallon added a second goal to give the Orchard county a four-point lead.

Meath didn't register their first second half score until the 47th minute through Emma Duggan.

Caroline O'Hanlon tapped over a free to put her side four up with less than three minutes to play.

There only looked to be one winner before Ennis' goal and Wall's late leveller shared the points.

Meath will go to Kildare next weekend while Armagh will host the Lilywhites in a fortnight with both sides looking to secure home advantage in the last eight.