Royals rumbled by rejuvenated Dublin

Dublin on the wane? There wasn't much evidence of it at Croke Park today as the Sky Blues romped to a commanding 1-27 to 1-14 victory over Meath in the Leinster SFC semi-final.

On a day when an official attendance of just over 38,000 showed up at Croke Park Dublin indicated they are far from vulnerable building on a bright start to pile on the pain for Meath who finished with 13 players after both Jack Flynn and Jordan Morris were red carded in the closing stages.

Dublin also Mick Fitzsimons sent off in the dying seconds as tackles became over robust.

Dessie Farrell's team were much the better side and now face Kildare in the Leinster final.

The opening half was very one sided and Dublin led 1-17 to 0-5 at the interval. They continued to steadily add to their account in the second-half with the Royals never looking like serious contenders.

Meath were slow starting off and they paid the price with Dublin drawing away as the contest unfolded. At times Meath looked

Dean Rock was Dublin main source of scores. He netted Dublin's only goal and was a constant menace for the over-worked Meath defence.

Morris had very mixed day. He had two goal opportunities he missed but still ended up with 1-3 yet the red card completed a miserable afternoon for him.

Morris's goal came from a penalty and it was superbly tucked away but it was all too little too late, too late for Meath.

Bryan Menton scored three points with the Jack O'Connor, who had an enterprising game, lofting over the same while Shane McEntee, Thomas O'Reilly, Donal Keogan, Joey Wallace and Flynn were others to score points for Meath who were simply outclassed by a far more effective Dublin outfit who garnered scores from a wide variety of players.

This was another bitter disappointment for Meath who lost to Dublin by six points last year but this was as comprehensive a defeat as the scoreline suggests.

Another bleak day for Meath football.

SCORERS

Dublin - D Rock 1-8 (1-0 pen, 5fs, 1 45), C Kilkenny 0-5, C Costello 0-3, C O'Callaghan, T Lahiff, L O'Dell, J McCarthy all 0-2 each, S Bugler, B Howard, P Small (m) all 0-1 each.

Meath - J Morris 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2fs) B Menton, J O'Connor (2fs) 0-3 each, J Wallace, T O'Reilly, S McEntee, J Flynn, D Keogan all 0-1 each.

TEAMS

Dublin - E Comerford: E Murchan, M Fitzsimons, L Gannon; J Small, B Howard, J McCarthy; B Fenton, T Lahiff; S Bugler, L O'Dell, C Kilkenny; C Costello, D Rock, C O'Callaghan. Subs - J Cooper for Murchan (50), N Scully for O Dell (55), P Small for O'Callaghan (55), S Clayton for Fenton (62).

Meath - H Hogan; E Harkin, C McGill, R Clarke; D Keogan, R Ryan, J McEntee; B Menton, R Jones; C O'Sullivan, T O'Reilly, J O'Connor; J Morris, M Costello, J Wallace. Subs - C Hickey for McEntee (h-t)S Walsh for O'Reilly (h-t), S McEntee for Ryan (h-t), J Flynn for Jones (43), B McMahon for O'Sullivan (58), B O'Leary for Costello (67)

Referee - D O'Mahoney (Tipperary).