Derry trail Meath 1-08 to 0-04 at half-time in their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship round 2A qualifier at Owenbeg.
The visitors got off to a flying start and opened up a four point lead with seven minutes on the clock with scores from Padraic Harney, Graham Reilly (2) and Michael Newman.
Mark Lynch (pictured) opened the Derry scoring with a fine point from play in the 16th minute.
Successful frees from Cillian O’Sullivan and Newman put the visitors five points clear.
Lynch and Newman exchanged scores before the former reduced the deficit with his third point of the game in the 23rd minute.
However, Meath extended their lead a short time later with a goal to leave the score 1-07 to 0-03 with 25 minutes played.
James Kielt reduced the deficit with a point seven minutes later.
O’Sullivan put over the bar to give the visitors a comfortable lead at the break.
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