Dublin 4-18
Meath 0-14

Fintan O’Toole reports from Abbotstown

PAT GILROY SAW his reign in charge of the Dublin hurlers get off to a winning start on a cold January night as they swept past Meath by 16 points.

Four goals, two in either half, enabled Dublin to create a strong platform for victory in this Bord Na Móna Walsh Cup tie.

Gilroy’s team were in front 2-11 to 0-7 at the midway mark with Robbie McMahon and Fionn Ó Riain-Broin both raising green flags.

In the second half Ó Riain-Broin repeated the trick with a clinical finish to the net and substitute Cian McBride had bagged Dublin’s third goal.

Paul Winters caught the eye from Dublin with 0-9 from full-forward as he demonstrated his accuracy from placed balls and open play.

James Regan and James Toher did their best to inspire a Meath team who entered the game off the back of a narrow win over Antrim last Saturday.

Dublin hurling boss Pat Gilroy. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Dublin: Paul Winters 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Fionn Ó Riain-Broin 2-1, Fergal Whitely 0-4, Robbie McMahon, Cian McBride 1-0 each, Alan Moore 0-3, Cian Costello 0-1.

Scorers for Meath: James Regan 0-6 (0-6f), James Kelly 0-3, Eoin Marsh, Neil Heffernan, Paddy Conneely, Anthony Forde, James Toher 0-1 each.

Dublin

1. Alan Nolan (St Brigid’s)

2. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf)
3. Bill O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
4. Cian Hendricken (Naomh Mearnóg)

5. Shane Barrett (Na Fianna)
6. Darren Kelly (Craobh Chiaráin)
7. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields)

8. Johnny McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields)
9. Tom Connolly (St Vincent’s)

10. Robbie McMahon (Craobh Chiaráin)
11. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes)
12. Cillian Costello (Naomh Barróg)

13. Alan Moore (St Vincent’s)
14. Paul Winters (St Brigid’s)
15. Fionn Ó Riain-Broin (St Judes)

Subs

22. Cian McBride (St Vincent’s) for McMahon (half-time)
18. Sean Ó Riain (Setanta) for McCaffrey (47)
21. Daire Gray (Whitehall Colmcille) for Whitely (50)

Meath

1. Shane McGann (Kiltale)

2. Chris Lynch (Longwood)
3. Damien Healy (Longwood)
4. Shane Brennan (Kilmessan)

5. Sean McGrath (St Peter’s Dunboyne)
6. Jack Regan (Kiltale)
7. Keith Keoghan (Killyon)

8. Anthony Forde (Kiltale)
9. Michael O’Grady (St Peter’s Dunboyne)

10. James Kelly (Kiltale)
11. Joe Keena (Kilmessan)
12. James Toher (Trim)

13. Adam Gannon (Killyon)
14. Paddy Conneely (Kildalkey)
15. Neil Heffernan (Trim)

Subs

17. Pauric Kelly (Kiltale) for Brennan (half-time)
5. Sean McGrath (St Peter’s Dunboyne) for O’Grady (42)
25. Eoin Marsh (Kilmessan) for Forde (46)
21. Sean O’Hanrahan (Ratoath) for Conneely (56)

Referee: David Hughes (Carlow)

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