SFC - Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12

Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12

A huge crowd (75k+) turned up to witness the meeting of the old enemy and left perhaps unsure of the ramifications of the outcome.  On a day when Pat Gilroy signalled his intentions with a new team selection his team should have strolled home but for some poor finishing, 17 wides in total, many from simple positions.  However it wasn’t a day for complaining.  A win over Meath however achieved was all that mattered on the day and progression into a Leinster semi-final.

The Dubs started strongly.  In the 1^st minute Darren Magee was put through on goal by a brilliant Conal Keaney pass but saw his shot go narrowly wide but some determined early play had the Dubs open up a 3 point lead.  In a topsy turvy half the Dubs let the Royallers back into the game and after 5 unanswered points suddenly there was a sense of pressure.  However the Blues buckled down and reeled off 8 consecutive scores to go into half time leading 0-11 to 0-05.  In this period Ger Brennan and Alan Brogan kickes a couple f very good points.

Meath replied from the throwin scoring four times to cut the deficit to two points.  But the Dubs rallied again kicking 2 points, one following a foul on an industrious Jason Sherlock who was cheered onto the field by the Hill.  Meath did respond but with a final point from the Dubs the Blues held off what pressure was left.  There was some tension in the dying minutes as fears of a Meath goal, reflecting previous experiences, would have dumped the Dubs out undeservedly.  But some cool head held possession and a very short period of injury time quickly passed and the Dubs were through.  Crokes Mark Davoren suffered an injury late on and looked very bad when taken away on a stretcher.  There was a significant delay when in agony Mark waited for what seemed an age before treatment arrived & hopefully after an impressive game he will be seen again in future encounters.  Much for Pat Gilroy & co. to work on but success breeds success & hopes of 5 Leinsters in a row remain on course. 

One disappointing note on the day was the stewarding which saw huge crowds try & burst into already full parts of the Hill when other areas were much quieter while in very strange actions a number of fans including an elderly lady were frisked at 13:00!  Obviously good stewarding is required, however there surely greater threats than elderly fans who might have a few sweets in their pockets.

Dublin -- Stephen Cluxton (Parnells), David Henry (Raheny), Denis Bastick (Templeogue/Synge Street), Alan Hubbard (Ballymun Kickhams), Barry Cahill (St. Brigids), Paul Griffin (Kilmacud Crokes), Ger Brennan (St. Vincents) (0-01), Ross McConnell (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (Ciaran Whelan (Raheny) (50)), Darren Magee (Kilmacud Crokes), Paul Flynn (Fingallians) (Blaine Kelly (St. Marys) (68)), Paddy Andrews (St. Brigids) (0-01) (Diarmuid Connolly (St. Vincents) (60)), Bernard Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-02) (Jason Sherlock (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (50)), Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St. Endas) (0-05), Mark Davoren (Kilmacud Crokes) (0-02) (Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) (55)), Alan Brogan (St. Oliver Plunketts /ER) (0-03)

Meath -- Paddy O'Rourke, Anthony Moyles, Kevin Reilly, Eoin Harrington, Seamus Kenny, Niall McKeigue (Barry Regan (50)), Cormac McGuinness, Mark Ward (0-01) (Chris O’Connor (45)), Nigel Crawford, Shane McAnarney (0-02) (Brian Sheridan (50)), Stephen Bray (0-01) (Peadar Byrne (55)), Brian Meade (Joe Sheridan (65) (0-01)), Cian Ward (0-04), Caoimhin King (0-01), Brian Farrell (0-02).