Meath 1-13 Dublin 1-15
Late points from Philly Ryan and Eoghan O’Gara earned Dublin a dramatic 1-15 to 1-13 win over Meath in their O’Byrne Cup semi-final at Navan to set up a final clash against Kildare.
Having been 1-11 to 0-05 ahead after O’Gara’s 43rd-minute goal, Dublin came under huge pressure from the Royals, who never gave up.
Dublin led by 0-09 to 0-05 at half-time before O’Gara’s goal opened up a nine-point lead.
Spurred on by the introduction of Michael Newman, Meath levelled in injury-time, with Newman netting a 60th-minute goal.
However, Dublin finished strongly with a brace of injury-time points to book a final with Kildare in Newbridge next Sunday.
With the game delayed by ten minutes owing to crowd congestion, Dublin opted to return to the dressing rooms, but the hosts braved the Arctic-like conditions and remained on the field ahead of throw-in.
A crowd of 7,500 watched on as the Royals drew first blood, with half-back Bryan Menton bagging the first of his two first-half points inside two minutes.
But Mick O’Dowd’s side struggled hugely thereafter in front of the posts, hindered by a slight cross-field wind as Dublin took control on the scoreboard.
Dean Rock levelled from play on four minutes before putting Dublin ahead for the first time with a pointed free 90 seconds later.
Naomh Mearnóg’s Shane Carthy extended Dublin’s lead on a 0-03 to 0-01 score-line after six minutes, but Meath’s dominance failed to reflect on the score board.
By the 11th minute the hosts had registered five wides, with Jamie Queeney, Graham Reilly, Sean Tobin and Donal Keogan all misfiring.
Emmet Ó Conghaile ensured Dublin continued to remain clinical in front of the posts with a 13th-minute score.
Meath suddenly kicked into form with Menton and Queeney on target to cut the gap to the minimum, on a 0-04 to 0-03 score-line after 15 minutes.
But Dublin once again exerted dominance as scores from Rock and Cormac Costello saw them take a 0-07 to 0-03 advantage after 24 minutes.
Dublin became goal hungry but Meath’s defence was alert to the danger.
Firstly, O’Gara’s 25th-minute effort was saved by Meath keeper Patrick O’Rourke, and then a minute later O’Gara was in one-on-one with O’Rourke, but the Skyrne clubman deflect the ball out for a 45, which Rock converted.
A third goal chance presented itself in the 28th minute, with Costello through, but once again Meath were prepared - this time Sean Tobin tracking back to get in with a well-placed block.
Meath worked hard before the break with back-to-back points as Reilly and Tobin claimed their opening scores.
However, Dublin notched up the final score of the half as Carthy registered his second point to deliver a four-point interval lead.
On the restart, Dublin again punished Meath hard, signalling their intention from the off.
A quick-fire score from O’Gara on the throw-in, was followed up with Rock’s sixth point.
O’Gara’s goal hunger continued into the second half, and it paid off in the 43rd minute, after a high ball in from Tomas Brady was caught inside by O’Gara, with the Templeogue Synge Street clubman turning, and planting the ball past O’Rourke in the Meath goals.
At 1-11 to 0-05 ahead, Dublin looked convincing although Meath grabbed the next score to open their second half account - a Tobin pointed free in the 46th minute.
The Royals battled bravely but found it hard to penetrate a stern Dublin rearguard.
Meath worked a goal chance with 20 minutes remaining as half-time substitute Andrew Tormey and Stephen Bray inter-linked.
Bray was met with a wall of Dublin defenders and sent the ball back to Tormey, whose effort came off Jonny Cooper and was deflected out for a 45.
Royals keeper O’Rourke was successful from the resulting place-kick, with the gap standing at six points as the game entered the final quarter.
Reilly’s second point ensured a 1-11 to 0-09 score-line and although Rock notched the next score Meath were far from finished.
Dublin would only manage one further point in normal time as Meath kicked into gear.
Newman’s goal arrived in the 60th minute, seven minutes after his introduction, after impressive link play with fellow substitute Tormey.
Despite being 1-12 to 1-10 in arrears at that stage, Meath now had momentum with Newman adding a quick-fire point to cut the gap to the minimum.
Rock broke a seven-minute scoring dead-lock to restore a two-point lead but a brace of O’Rourke pointed frees levelled the tie for just the second time, on the stroke of injury-time.
Dublin found that extra gear in the three minutes which followed, with substitute Ryan pushing them ahead before O’Gara cemented victory.
Dublin: L Molloy; E Culligan, R O’Carroll, J Cooper; N Devereux , J Small, D Daly; D Bastick, S Carthy (0-02); T Brady, D Rock (0-08, 4f, 1 45), E Ó Conghaile (0-01); K McManamon, E O’Gara (1-02), C Costello (0-01).
Subs: MD MacAuley for Bastick (HT); M Fitzsimons for Daly (HT); J McCaffrey for Carthy (42); P Ryan (0-01) for Costello (45); S Lowndes for Brady (48).
Meath: P O’Rourke (0-03 2 45s)); D Tobin, C McGill, D Dalton; N Judge, D Keogan, B Menton (0-02); H Rooney, A Flanagan; S Tobin (0-03, 3f), S Bray, G Reilly (0-02); J Wallace, J Queeney (0-01), R O’Dowd.
Subs: M Burke (0-01) for Dalton (13); A Tormey for O’Dowd (HT); C McConnell for Judge (HT); M Newman (1-01) for Queeney (53); D Carroll for Tobin (56); D Bray for S Bray (64).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).
