Late Ryan and O’Gara points see Dubs past Meath

DUBLIN 1-15 MEATH 1-13

Dublin will face Kildare in the Bord na Móna O'Byrne Cup final after overcoming Meath in a thrilling finish at Páirc Tailteann, Navan on Sunday afternoon.

Jim Gavin's men led by nine points eight minutes into the second half, 1-11 to 0-5, following Eoghan O'Gara's goal but as the game entered the first minute of injury-time a Paddy O'Rourke '45' had Meath level and extra-time looking on the cards in front of an attendance of close to 8,000.

However, scores from sub Philly Ryan and O'Gara saw the Dubs progress to face the Lilywhites next Sunday in the decider, scheduled for St Conleth's Park, Newbridge (2.0).

Dublin led 0-9 to 0-5 at the break but could have been further ahead as they had spurned two goal chances when Meath keeper O'Rourke denied O'Gara from close range on both occasions.

The Royals will also reflect on the number of wides they kicked in the opening period: seven versus just two by Dublin.

Dean Rock was Dublin's principal scorer in the first half, contributing five points (including two frees and a '45') while Emmett O Conghaile, Shane Carthy (two) and Kevin McManamon also got in on the scoring act while Meath wing-back Bryan Menton raided successfully on two occasions for the home side.

Dublin restarted the second half the more livelier with scores from O'Gara and an excellent Rock free from towards the stand side to extend the lead.

In the 43rd minute came Dublin's goal when a point effort from Tomás Brady dropping short was brilliantly fielded by O'Gara who turned and fired to the net to push his side nine points clear.

However, Meath began to exert far more influence at midfield and on breaking ball off of kickouts and worked their way back into the game.

Points from Seán Tobin (two frees), an O'Rourke '45' and Graham Reilly cut the margin to five points by the 57th minute and the momentum was all with the hosts.

A Rock point broke the sequence of Meath scores but the Royals then tagged on 1-2 with their goal coming from sub Michael Newman who enjoyed a fruitful cameo following his introduction, his goal coming when he outfielded Rory O'Carroll from an Andrew Tormey punt before sliding the ball under the body of the advancing Lorcan Molloy.

Rock restored a two-point lead for Dublin with a free following a foul on O'Gara but Meath battled back again with one '45' and a 50-metre free from keeper O'Rourke to tie up the game 1-13 each as it entered added time.

But it was Dublin who had the final word with points from Ryan and O'Gara to see Dublin progress to face Kildare, 2-15 to 0-9 victors over DIT, in the final next weekend.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-8 (0-4f, 0-1 '45'), E O'Gara 1-2, S Carthy 0-2, E O Conghaile, K McManamon, P Ryan 0-1 each. Meath: M Newman 1-1, P O'Rourke (0-2 '45', 0-1), S Tobin (0-3f) 0-3 each, B Menton, G Reilly 0-2 each, J Queeney, M Burke 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: L Molloy; E Culligan, R O'Carroll, D Daly; N  Devereux, J Small, J Cooper; D Bastick, E O Conghaile; T Brady, D Rock, S Carthy; K McManamon, E O'Gara, C Costello. Subs: MD McAuley for Bastick (ht), M Fitzsimons for Daly (ht), J McCaffrey for Carthy (42), S Lowndes for Brady (43), P Ryan for Costello (46).

MEATH: P O'Rourke; D Tobin, C McGill, D  Dalton; N Judge, D Keogan, B Menton; H Rooney, A  Flanagan; G Reilly, S Bray, J Wallace; S Tobin, J Queeney, R O'Dowd. Subs: M Burke for Dalton (13), C McConnell for Judge (ht), A  Tormey for O'Dowd (ht), M Newman for Queeney (53), D Carroll for Tobin (56), D Bray for S Bray (60).

REF: A Nolan (Wicklow).