Dublin 0-21
Meath 0-11

Daragh Ó Conchúir reports from Croke Park

THE MARGIN WAS very comfortable in the end but Dublin were given a nice little test by Meath, who showed signs at last that they are moving in the right direction in the opening 45 minutes, before the Leinster and All-Ireland champions’ superior power eased them clear.

In the end, Dublin just wore Meath down but their old rivals were excellent in the first half, defending with intensity and attacking intelligently, with Graham Reilly outstanding throughout.

The St Colmcille’s speedster kicked two early points as Meath went 0-3 to 0-1 ahead and it took a brilliant block by Cian O’Sullivan to deny Dalton McDonagh a goal.

Dean Rock had a splendid day from placed balls though, finishing with 10 points, nine of which came from frees.

He landed his first couple in response to the early Meath flurry and with Diarmuid Connolly, Brian Fenton, Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan also on the mark, Dublin had moved 0-11 to 0-8 ahead at half time.

The effort started to tell on the Meath players as the second half wore on, though Mick O’Dowd’s crew didn’t help themselves by kicking four wides before Michael Newman finally slotted in the 45th minute.

While never really coughing up a goal chance, they conceded far too many frees though and Rock was unerring.

It was an extremely professional performance by the Blues and Jim Gavin called Bernard Brogan, Kevin McManamon, Cian O’Sullivan and Paul Flynn ashore as he emptied the bench.

Scorers for Dublin: D Rock 0-10(9fs); D Connolly 0-4; B Brogan 0-3; P Flynn 0-2, B Fenton, P Mannion 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: M Newman 0-4(3fs); G Reilly, C O’Sullivan (1f) 0-3 each; R Jones 0-1.

DUBLIN

1 Stephen Cluxton

2 Philly McMahon
3 Johnny Cooper
4 David Byrne

5 James McCarthy
6 Cian O’Sullivan
7 John Small

8 Brian Fenton
18 Denis Bastick

23 Paul Flynn
14 Diarmuid Connolly
12 Ciarán Kilkenny

10 Dean Rock
11 Kevin McManamon
15 Bernard Brogan

Subs:
9 Michael Darragh Macauley for Bastick (ht)
13 Paul Mannion for Brogan (53)
17 Paddy Andrews for McManamon (58)
24 Eric Lowndes for Small (60)
22 Michael Fitzsimons for O’Sullivan (63)
26 Con O’Callaghan for Flynn (67)

MEATH

1 Paddy O’Rourke

3 Donal Keogan
2 Donnacha Tobin
4 Mickey Burke

5 Darragh Smyth
6 Padraic Harnan
7 Alan Douglas

8 Harry Rooney
9 Cian O’Brien

10 Graham Reilly
11 Cillian O’Sullivan
12 Eamonn Wallace

13 Dalton McDonagh
14 Andrew Tormey
15 Michael Newman

Subs
25 Ronan Jones for Tormey (53)
26 Seamus Lavin for Eamonn Wallace (54)
22 Joey Wallace for Reilly (64)
18 Sean Tobin for McDonagh (60)
17 Bryan McMahon for O’Sullivan (68)

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare).

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