North Meath may well be asking themselves how they managed a bonus point win against Tallaght despite being outplayed for much of the first half.

Nevertheless, the victory leaves the Meath men in touching distance of the league title.

The visitors started well with Andy Dowds in typically rampaging form. And they were first on the scoresheet when Oisin McDermott slotted a penalty.

There was also an early chance out wide for North Meath but an overcooked kick out paid to that. But from then on, it was all Tallaght, especially in the scrum. And it was from a 5m scrum that Tallaght scored the opening try. Another one followed soon after with good hands from the Tallaght backs to put them 12-3 ahead.

A second Oisin McDermott penalty kept the visitors in touch while Tallaght failed to make the most of their territorial dominance, missing two kickable penalties and a try chance out wide.

And sure enough, they were made to pay when in a rare foray into Tallaght territory, a Conor Grey gruber was collected by Ruben Mostert in acres of space and he strolled over to score. The touchline conversion from Oisin McDermott meant, somehow, North Meath went into the halftime break up 13-12.

In the second half, however, it was a different story. With the wind behind them and their ears still stinging from a halftime rebuke, North Meath had much more territory.

Tallaght did get themselves back in front with a penalty but the turning point came from scrum-half Nathan Kiernan. He spotted a gap, chipped ahead, collected the kick and touched down under the posts. Oisin McDermott converted to make it 20-15.

By now Tallaght were tiring and North Meath were judging their chips and kicks much better. A crossfield kick from Kiernan found winger Ben Wiseman in the try zone. And then, in the dying moments, Simon Deevy picked and went from the scrum and put Oisin McDermott over in the corner to secure the bonus point.

In a bruising encounter, there were injuries on both sides but it was North Meath that took the spoils. And while most of the tries were scored out wide from crossfield kicks and grubers, there were vital shifts from forwards Sean Gilsenan, Sam Bashford and Ciaran Cullen. But it was the young crop of 18 year olds, Paddy Farnan, Eoin Broody and Oisin McDermott, that really made the difference for North Meath.

A hotly anticipated game against Ardee awaits next weekend. A victory would leave North Meath in a very healthy position for Christmas.

Team: Oisin McDermott, Ben Wiseman, Cian Doogan, Senan McDermott, Ruben Mostert, Conor Grey, Nathan Kiernan, Sean Gilsenan, Killian Flanagan, Sam Bashford, Eoghan Cosgrave, Graham Boland, Curtis Hunter, Ciaran Cullen, Andrew Dowds

Replacements: Padraic McGurl, Jack Yore, Eoin Briody, Louie Finnegan, Simon Deevy, Ivan Mostert, Paddy Farnan

Tries: Ruben Mostert, Kiernan, Wiseman, Oisin McDermott

Convs: Oisin McDermott (2)

Pens: Oisin McDermott (2)