Heavy defeat for Meath in Leinster final
In front of 62,660 supporters today at Croke Park, Meath wilted in the sunshine as reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions Dublin retained the Leinster SFC title with a massive 16-point winning margin as they won by 3-20 to 1-10.
This was Dublin's ninth title in 10 years, only deprived of the 'perfect 10' by Meath's success in 2010. .
The Dublin goals arrived from Bernard Brogan, Kevin McManamon and substitute Eoghan O'Gara and Dublin were ahead by 1-12 to 0-6 at the interval - although there was a large dollop of luck included in that nine-point advantage.
The Dublin goals arrived from Bernard Brogan, Kevin McManamon and substitute Eoghan O'Gara and Dublin were ahead by 1-12 to 0-6 at the interval - although there was a large dollop of luck included in that nine-point advantage.
Armagh referee Padraig Hughes awarded a free to Meath when he could have applied the 'advantage' - something he did regularly for the 70 minutes apart from this occasion - and Stephen Bray's goal was ruled out at the midway point of the half. (See video clip taken from RTE's coverage of the game).
Meath manager Mick O'Dowd made one change to his starting 15 with Dalton McDonagh starting at corner forward Graham Reilly switched to midfield in place of Brian Meade.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin made three changes to his starting team with Michael Fitzsimons, Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion getting the nod in place of Johnny Cooper, Kevin Nolan and Paddy Andrews.
Bernard Brogan's pointed free increased Dublin's advantage within seconds of the resumption and when Kevin McManamon drilled a shot to the net soon after the game was up for the Royals.
Bernard Brogan's pointed free increased Dublin's advantage within seconds of the resumption and when Kevin McManamon drilled a shot to the net soon after the game was up for the Royals.
Bryan McMahon departed with a head injury in the closing stages and Mickey Newman scored a late consolation goal.
Meath finished with a dozen wides, some of which should have been scores in the opening half, but it was a day when nothing went right for the Royal County.
Meath can get back on track now in two weeks in a fourth-round All-Ireland SFC qualifier.?
Dublin - S Cluxton (0-1); P McMahon, R O'Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, M Devereux, J McCaffrey (0-1); MD MacAuley, C O'Sullivan (0-1); P Flynn (0-1), A Brogan (0-1), D Connolly (0-1); K McManamon (1-5), P Mannion, B Brogan (1-6). Subs - C Costello (0-1) for Mannion, D Rock (0-1) for Connolly, E O'Gara (1-1) for A Brogan, D Daly for Devereux, D Bastick for MacAuley, T Brady for O'Sullivan.
Meath - Paddy O'Rourke; Eoghan Harrington, Kevin Reilly, Bryan Menton; Paraic Harnan, Donal Keogan, Donnacha Tobin; Graham Reilly, Shane O'Rourke (0-2); Damien Carroll (0-1), Brian McMahon, Andrew Tormey (0-2); Dalton McDonagh, Stephen Bray (0-2), Michael Newman (1-2). Subs - Joey Wallace for G Reilly 31 mins, Mickey Burke for Carroll half-time, David Bray (0-1) for McDonagh and Brian Meade for S O'Rourke both 52m, Mark O'Sullivan for Menton, James McEntee for McMahon, Paddy Gilsenan for Tobin 69m.