Dubs dismantle disappointing Royal challenge

Thursday's Leinster u-20 FC semi-final was over almost as soon as it began as Meath were a beaten docket by the 14th minute and slumped to a disappointing 1-14 to 4-12 loss to Dublin in Parnell Park.

Despite opening the scoring with a pointed free Meath conceded a goal after just two minutes as they were cut open through the heart of their defence and by that 14th minute Dublin were out of sight leading by 3-2 to 0-3.

It could have been worse before the break as Luke Breathnach hit the post from close range when his side led by 3-6 to 0-3.

It did eventually get worse six minutes after the break when Dublin stretched their lead to a massive 15 points and while Meath did improve with the introduction of Pearse Sheridan they were a long way second best to a superior Dublin outfit.

The seven-point final margin of defeat is hugely flattering for Meath and the fact that they scored 15 times to Dublin's 16 scores is testament to their magnificent spirit and determination to keep going despite ever being seriously in the game.

The first hammer blow came after Eoghan Frayne had opened the scoring from a close range free when Fionn Murray cut the Meath defence in two with a piercing pass to Ryan O'Dwyer who gave Billy Hogan no chance in the Meath goals.

Only two players contributed points to Dublin's cause with the first of O'Dwyer's four frees from his half dozen tally stretching his side's lead before the only real bright point from Meath's dire opening half, Daragh Reilly replied with a score.

After a Frayne free dropped short in the stiff breeze Dublin counter-attacked with Adam Waddick left unmarked to rifle his side's second goal and in the 11th minute Murray arrowed over the first of his six points.

Reilly hit back for Meath again after more good link play with Ciaran Caulfield, but when Caulfield was asked to adopt a more defence role that attacking threat dissipated and Dublin flourished with Breathnach's goal making it 3-2 to 0-3.

Two frees each from Breathnach and Murray highlighted the pressure the Meath defence were under and even though Breathnach hit the post Dublin were still in command as O'Dwyer pointed from play before Frayne pulled one back to close the gap to 0-4 to 3-7 at the break.

Murray (free) and Ruairi Kinsella traded points in the opening five points before the final nail was hammered into Meath's challenge as Murray and Breathnach combined with the latter selling Hogan a dummy before finishing to the net to make it 4-8 to 0-5 - a 15-point lead.

Frayne replied with a point for Meath and even after Breathnach was black carded Dublin stretched their lead with another Murray free.

Sheridan and Murray traded points from play before Meath started to make their man advantage work as points from Sheridan, Frayne ('45') Oisin Martin (two) and Reilly made it 0-12 to 4-10.

With Breathnach back on board Dublin settled again with two more points from O'Dwyer (one free). Sheridan continued to be a threat with an excellent point before Frayne grabbed his second from play.

As the hour ran out Sheridan's long ball was gathered brilliantly by Frayne and he finished to the net, but that late flourish where Meath outscored Dublin by 1-8 to 0-4 in the closing 20 minutes, proved too little too late as the damage was done in the opening 14 minutes that no-one of a green and gold persuasion will want to remember.

SCORERS

Dublin - Ryan O'Dwyer 1-6 four frees; Luke Breathnach 2-0; Fionn Murray 0-6 four frees; Adam Waddick 1-0.

Meath - Eoghan Frayne 1-4 one free, one '45'; Daragh Reilly 0-3; Pearse Sheridan 0-3; Oisin Martin 0-2; Niall Finnerty 0-1 free; Ruairi Kinsella 0-1.

TEAMS

Dublin - Hugh O'Sullivan; Kieran Conroy, Theo Clancy, Harry Donaghy; David O'Dowd, Greg McEneaney, Conor Tyrell; Adam Waddick, Senan Forker; Tom Brennan, Fionn Murray, Seamus Smith; Ryan O'Dwyer, Luke Breathnach, sean Kinsella. Subs - Dean Robertson for Brennan half-time, Ronan Cullen for Kinsella, Jack Lundy for Smith both 51 mins, Peter Duffy for Tyrell 53m, Darragh Fagan for Murray 57m.

Meath - Billy Hogan; Mossie Corbett, Liam Kelly, Ciaran McCarrick; Mark Coffey, Josh Carolan, Ciaran Caulfield; Jamie Browne, Adam McDonnell; Shane Smyth, Daragh Reilly, Sean Emmanuel; Niall Finnerty, Eoghan Frayne, Ruairi Kinsella. Subs - Alan Bowden for Corbett 13 mins, Conor Gray for Browne 23m, Evan Quinn for Carolan, Pearse Sheridan for Smyth both half-time, Oisin Martin for Finnerty for 47m, Fursey Blake for McDonnell 58m.

Referee - Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).

MATCH REPORT, REACTION FROM MANAGER JOHN McCARTHY AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THURSDAY'S GAME IN NEXT TUESDAY'S MEATH CHRONICLE