Dublin 2-11 Meath 0-10
Dublin will play Kildare in the Leinster final after recording their first championship victory in seven years over rivals Meath with a fine exhibition of refreshing football at Croke Park today.
Tommy Lyons' young guns outfoxed their wily opponents with a stylish brand of football not seen in the capital for some time, limiting Meath to sporadic bursts of play that failed to yield the vital scores to break Dublin's momentum.
Meath were dealt an early blow when midfielder John Cullinane was forced to limp off with an injury in the opening minute. Anthony Moyles was summoned off the bench as his replacement.
Colin Moran, finding his best form since returning from a series of injury problems, set Dublin in motion by striking over the first of his three first half points in the eight minute.
The Hill 16 faithful were sent into raptures five minutes later when Ray Cosgrove capitalised on a mistake by Meath `keeper Cormac Sullivan to palm the ball to the back of the net. Sullivan didn't notice the Dublin full forward slipping in around the back to deflect home John McNally's hanging free kick.
Dublin utilised the big pitch to their advantage and kept the scoreboard ticking over with a range of scores from Moran and corner forward Alan Brogan. The duo registered six of Dublin's seven first half points. Meath replied with a Ray Magee free and an Evan Kelly point.
But it was Dublin who pressed on and confined Meath to their own half for large periods. Working tenaciously on and off the ball, Dublin created a variety of conundrums for the Meath defence - most tellingly their ability to drag Darren Fay from full back and create gaps to exploit with a mix of pace and flair.
Midfielder Darren Homan rounded off a typically determined performance with a fine score late in the half before Graham Geraghty and Magee pointed in reply. Dublin led 1-7 to 0-5 at the break.
Dublin started the second half smartly with two Cosgrove points and a fourth from the lively Moran. But Meath replied through Trevor Giles, Geraghty and a mammoth score from midfielder Nigel Crawford.
The introduction of influential forward Ollie Murphy ten minutes after the restart lifted last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists. Meath could have nabbed a goal soon after but for the timely intervention of Jonny Magee who shoved his body in front of Evan Kelly's drive.
The Dublin full forward line, so instrumental in the first half, endured a rough spell midway through the second half with Cosgrove, Brogan and McNally hitting a series of poor wides. Manager Lyons reacted by substituting the latter with former captain Dessie Farrell.
With seven minutes remaining Meath had managed to wittle down their opponents lead. A pointed free from Murphy and then Nigel Nestor's fine score in the 64th minute bridged the gap to three points.
But Dublin galloped on and rode out Meath's dominant spell to turn the game on its head with only minutes remaining.
A lapse of concentration in the Meath half back line gifted Cosgrove possession and under pressure he fed the onrushing Brogan. His effort went high and dropped menacingly into the area. `Keeper Cormac Sullivan, under strong pressure, got his finger tips to the ball but failed to control it, allowing Cosgrove in to bundle it over the line for his second crucial goal.
So the Dubs march into the Leinster final against Kildare on July 14th, a game which based on today's performance they should fancy nicking. Meath, however, must contemplate the uncertainty that is the qualifier series, but, Sean Boylan's side, despite a second-rate performance, still remain a potent force in this year's championship.
- Derry shook off a poor first half performance to run out comfortable 2-13 to 0-9 winners over Longford in their All-Ireland qualifying series match at Pearse Park. Longford led 0-8 to 1-2 at the break but Derry soon found their footing. Midfielder Anthony Tohill, who found the net in the first half, did so again in the second after being switched to full forward.