Dublin Senior Footballers Edged Out by Meath in Leinster Semi-Final

Picture Courtesy Paul Lundy

DUBLIN 1-16 

MEATH 0-23

A strong first-half showing proved vital as Meath got the better of Dublin by four points in their Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Sunday afternoon. 

In doing so, the Dubs failed to qualify for the provincial final for the first time since 2010 and they could have few complaints on a day when they failed to produce against their more determined opponents.  

Dublin struggled to make an impression in the first-half as four two-pointed efforts helped Meath build a healthy 0-17 to 0-5 interval lead. 

Matters improved for Dublin after the break but a 54th minute Cormac Costello goal proved insufficient as they only managed four further points by the final whistle. 

Meath played with the benefit of the stiff breeze in the opening-half and they opened the scoring through Matthew Costello in the 2nd minute.

Captain Eoghan Frayne added two further scores for the Royals soon after and as they dominated possession, they wasted a number of presentable chances to extend their lead before James Conlon pointed in the 8th minute. 

Frayne added a two-pointed effort two minutes later to leave six points between the sides before Con O’Callaghan finally opened the Dublin account as he converted a 12th minute free. 

While O’Callaghan added Dublin’s first score from play soon after, Meath continued to impress up front as they restored their six-point buffer through scores by Keith Curtis and Conlon. 

Colm Basquel and Conlon traded points early in the second quarter before Curtis landed a two-pointed score as Dublin struggled to gain any kind of platform around the middle third. 

Bryan Menton and Frayne added further red flags towards the end of the half with Paddy Small and O’Callaghan (free) limiting the damage to twelve points by the turnaround. 

O’Callaghan kicked an excellent two-pointed score within fifteen seconds of the restart to offer hopes of a brighter outlook but that score failed to generate too much momentum from a Dublin perspective. 

Frayne replied with a free for Meath before Dublin closed the gap through points from Small and Cormac Costello (free) by the 45th minute. 

Once again, their opponents found a response as Frayne and Conlon popped over crucial points with Small keeping Dublin’s slim hopes alive with two further points by the end of the third quarter.

Further oxygen was provided as Costello rifled home past Billy Hogan in the 54th minute following incisive set-up play from O’Callaghan and a Small point three minutes later brought Dublin’s deficit down to a more manageable five points. 

Crucially, Hogan denied Costello a second Dublin goal soon after and while Small, O’Callaghan and Basquel (P2) clipped over scores to bring the margin down to two points, Meath finished calmly through late points by Aaron Lynch and Frayne (free).       

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Callaghan 0-6 (2f, 1 P2); P Small 0-5; C Costello 1-1 (0-1f); C Basquel 0-3 (1 P2); L O’Dell 0-1. Meath: E Frayne 0-11 (5f, 1 F2, 1 P2); J Conlon 0-5; K Curtis 0-3 (1 P2); B Menton 0-2 (P2); M Costello, A Lynch 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S Cluxton; D Byrne, T Clancy, C Tyrrell; B Howard, J Small, T Lahiff; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, C Kilkenny; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, K Lahiff; P Small, C Basquel, L O’Dell. Subs:A Gavin for Tyrrell (30), C Costello for K Lahiff (half-time), K McGinnis for Scully (45), R McGarry for O’Dell (58), G McEneaney for J Small (59).   

Meath: B Hogan; S Lavin, S Rafferty, B O’Halloran; D Keogan, S Coffey, C Caulfield; A O’Neill, B Menton; C Duke, R Kinsella, K Curtis; M Costello, J Conlon, E Frayne. Subs: A Lynch for Curtis (50), S Walsh for Kinsella (55), R Jones for Duke (57), C Hickey for O’Neill (59), R Ryan for Rafferty (62). 

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone).