Royals stun Kerry to move straight through to All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals

Meath recorded their first championship win over Kerry in 24 years this afternoon to move straight into the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.

Robbie Brennan’s men delivered a brilliant 1-22 to 0-16 victory against the Munster champions at Glenisk O'Connor Park, where Bryan Menton’s 56th minute goal propelled them to a second win to top Group 2 in the Sam Maguire Cup race.

The early exchanges in Tullamore saw the teams all square on 0-5 apiece after 15 minutes and, after the sides swapped two points each, the Royals sent over a couple of two-pointers via captain Eoghan Frayne and Ruairí Kinsella that opened up a four-point margin.

Conor Duke, Jordan Morris and Frayne added points that saw Meath take in a 0-14 to 0-8 lead at half-time and, while the Kingdom cut their deficit back down to two with a brace each from Dylan Geaney and Killian Spillane, their Leinster counterparts had the perfect response.

It saw a Kinsella two-pointer being backed up by another from Duke before veteran Menton fired the ball into the Kerry net.

After that, Jack O’Connor’s side would only manage two more points via David Clifford and Tony Brosnan, as Meath saw out the win which gives them automatic qualification to the All-Ireland quarter-finals on the weekend of June 28/29.

As for Kerry, they now gear up for a home preliminary quarter-final next weekend, while Cork will have to travel for their preliminary quarter-final after defeating Roscommon by 0-19 to 0-17 in Portlaoise to secure third place in Group 2 and send the Rossies packing in the process.

Alexa play: Dog days are over 🔁 A pivotal point in today’s win over Kerry was Bryan Mentons perfectly executed goal in the 56th minute of the second half 🔥

The stalwart played in his 147th game for the Royals 🟢🟡 #MeathGAA #AnMhíAbu pic.twitter.com/WiWZunF69t

— Meath GAA (@MeathGAA) June 14, 2025

The #SamMaguireCup Group 2 Table after Round 2. Cork 0-19 v 0-17 Roscommon

Meath 1-22 v 0-16 Kerry#GAA #SFC #GAALeagueTables pic.twitter.com/YoZHDaItIj

— GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) June 14, 2025