Meath needed two injury time points and a dramatic late save by Brendan Murphy to repel the challenge of Galway, while Wicklow and Armagh were level after extra-time in the second round of the All-Ireland football qualifiers.
The Royals had led by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time after a dominant first half performance but it was all change in the second half.
Galway hit five points without reply as Meath failed to score again until the 65th minute, when substitute Graham Reilly fired them level.
The visitors, for whom Matthew Clancy and Garreth Bradshaw were exceptional, hit the front again as the game drifted towards injury time but when an added four minutes were signalled, it gave Meath a renewed impetus and Brian Farrell and Stephen Bray were on target to put them in front.
Even then, however, Galway had a chance to win it when Cormac Bane found himself through on goal, but instead of taking the simple point to send the game to extra-time, the forward went for the killer finish and keeper Brendan Murphy was able to save.
Garden almost party
At the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, Wicklow came within a whisker of a mighty upset as they fought all the way to force a replay against the Orchard County.
Micko’s men entered injury time in normal time in front but Gavin McParland levelled to send the game into extra-time.
Armagh moved a couple of points in front in extra-time but Seanie Furlong hit the net to put Wicklow in the lead again as the final whistle approach, only for Aaron Kernan to get forward to save Armagh’s bacon.
The sides will meet again in Aughrim, most likely next weekend, with Wicklow sure to approach that one in high spirits given home advantage and the memories of their performance this weekend.
Round-up
Elsewhere in the football qualifiers, there were wins for Kildare, Tyrone, Down, Limerick, Antrim and Waterford.
Kildare ran out hugely impressive 25-point winners at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
The Lilywhites showed no negative after-effects from their controversial Leinster semi-final defeat to Dublin two weeks ago, with early goals from Johnny Doyle and Tomas O’Connor putting them on the right road and James Kavanagh coming off the bench to add a third goal in the second half.
Tyrone came from behind at half-time to overcome Longford at Pearse Park.
Mickey Harte’s men found themselves 0-8 to 0-7 down at the interval but they produced a much improved display in the second 35 minutes to run out five point winners at the final whistle (1-17 to 0-15).
Down had eight points to spare over Leitrim, goals from Ian Ryan, Seamus O’Carroll and Ger Collins helped Limerick to get the better of Offaly, Antrim got the better of 14-man Carlow by a point at Casement Park and London’s All-Ireland journey ended in a seven-point defeat to Waterford in Ruislip.
Galway, Limerick on top in hurling
In hurling, Galway followed up last week’s demolition of Clare with an impressive win over Cork at the Gaelic Grounds.
Damien Hayes and Cyril Donnellan scored the goals for John McIntyre’s side, who had 12 points to spare at the final whistle.
In Saturday’s other hurling qualifier, Limerick strolled to the expected straightforward win over Antrim at Parnell Park, 18 points separating the sides at the finish.
All-Ireland football qualifier results:
Armagh 0-19 Wicklow 2-13 (after extra-time)
Meath 0-11 Galway 0-10
Kildare 3-16 Laois 0-10
Tyrone 1-17 Longford 0-15
Down 1-16 Leitrim 1-8
Limerick 3-13 Offaly 0-15
Antrim 1-13 Carlow 2-9
Waterford 1-17 London 0-13
All-Ireland hurling qualifier results:
Galway 2-23 Cork 1-14
Limerick 3-22 Antrim 0-13
