Super young Royals book Leinster final spot

Trevor Giles' side were full value for their Leinster MFC semi-final victory over Dublin on Tuesday.

Meath 2-1-12

Dublin 2-1-6

In the final 10 minutes, Meath outscored Dublin 0-8 to 1-1 and booked their place in the Leinster MFC final in what was an impressive display from Trevor Giles’ young royals on Tuesday at Parnell Park.

Despite the fact that the Royals were largely on top for the majority, Dublin’s goal in the 51st minute handed them a slender advantage. However, the Royals dug deep and in the end pulled away nicely from the opposition.

Meath dominated possession in the first-half and it took some time for Dublin to settle into the contest. In the first quarter, the home side took the few opportunities afforded to them well and led by four points after 15 minutes.

When Meath dispatched a penalty in the 19th minute, momentum shifted and at the short whistle, it was the men in green and gold who led by four points.

The Dubs experienced a nice purple patch after the restart and rattled off three points on the spin. Meath’s leaders, Harry McGuirk and Conn Brennan kept the Royals ticking over before the Dubs edged ahead with that goal with nine minutes of normal time left.

A McGuirk two-pointer proved the catalyst needed to inspire Meath, and from there they cruised to the finish line. Mo Salami claimed possession from the throw-in and before Meath conceded an early foul. James McCaghy split the posts from distance to give the Dubs a two-point lead after less than a minute.

Meath’s first opportunity came when McGuirk pierced through the Dublin defence and set up Cormac Walsh who forced a good save out of Jamie Galvin. The resulting ‘45’ was slotted over by Milo Stafford. Eoghan Madden stretched the Dubs lead back to two but Meath remained well on top possession-wise.

Not a lot of options were available to Alex Keane when he looked to kick a sideline in the 11th minute so he took on a shot from miles out which rattled off the crossbar. Meath pressure forced a ‘45’ but this time Stafford’s effort came up just short.

Against the run of play, a Daniel Guilfoyle shot fell short but Eoghan Madden reacted quicest and fisted the ball past Cormac Fitzsimons in the Meath net which gave Dublin a 1-3 to to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes.

Meath responded well and Cortown’s Dara Loughran burst through the Dublin defence before he was fouled in the large rectangle by Cormac Doran. Milo Stafford dispatched the resulting penalty well. Three minutes later, a mishit shot from Brennan fell nicely for Cormac McKenna and he raised Meath’s second green flag.

Brennan then got on the end of a very well-worked move and stretched Meath’s advantage before he added another on the cusp of half-time. At the break Meath led 2-4 to 1-3.

Dublin’s best spell came after the restart and three points on the spin courtesy of Salami, Max Morrison and Madden reduced the gap back to one. Niall Smyth set up Brennan who settled Meath before McGurirk also kept Meath’s noses in front.

Madden played a lovely one-two with David Lombard before he finished well to the Meath net which edged Dublin ahead by one with nine minutes left. Dublin’s tails were up but Meath substitute Thomas McKeever did very well to intercept a pass and burst forward before he secured an equaliser for the Royals.

The crucial score that shifted momentum back in Meath’s favour came in the 54th minute when McGuirk curled over a two-pointer. A three-up breach from Dublin followed and Stafford stretched Meath’s lead to three points.

Patrick Cahill pulled one back for the Dubs but that was as good as it got for the homes side as Meath dominated the closing stages. Stafford reestablished Meath’s three-point lead before Leo Kavanagh scored the insurance point for the Royals.

Loughran and McKenna added scores deep in injury time as Meath pulled away from the Dubs and booked their Leinster MFC spot in style.

Meath - Cormac Fitzsimons; Ben Browne, Tomas Clarke, Niall Rogan; Liam O’Donoghue, Harry McGuirk (0-3 one two-point), Niall Smyth; John Killoran, Tomas Proudfoot; Cormac McKenna (1-1), Conn Brennan (0-3), Alex Keane; Cormac Walsh, Milo Stafford (1-4 1-0 penalty, one free, one ‘45’), Dara Loughran (0-1). Subs - Leo Kavanagh for Proudfoot 43m, Thomas McKeever for Walsh 49m.

Dublin - Jamie Galvin; David Lombard, Adam Becton, Andrew Davis; Cormac Doran, James McCaghy (0-3 one two-point free), Bobby Doyle; Colm O’Carroll, Daniel Guilfoyle; Max Morrison (0-1), Mo Salami (0-1), Cian O’Dwyer; Patrick Cahill (1-2 one free), Jamie Heavey, Eoghan Madden (1-1). Subs - Conor O’Brien for Guilfoyle half-time, Andy McDonnell for Davis 40m.

Referee: Stephen Fagan (Wicklow).