Sport

Dublin take control after the break

Dublin 2-18 Meath 1-11: A POWERFUL second-half blitz put Dublin on the way to their 30th Leinster minor football title at Croke…

Mon Jul 11 2011 - 01:00

Dublin 2-18 Meath 1-11:A POWERFUL second-half blitz put Dublin on the way to their 30th Leinster minor football title at Croke Park yesterday.

Dessie Farrell’s highly-rated young Dubs had to endure a torrid opening, however, as Davy Dalton’s Meath threatened to inflict yet more Royal heartache on a Dublin team at Croke Park.

But an expertly taken Cormac Costello goal at the start of the second half lifted the siege for Dublin. With the exception of centre forward Gavin Ivory, Dublin’s much lauded attack was slow to settle and credit is due to a hard working Meath defence.

Dublin led 0-4 to 0-2 after five minutes, but with Shane McEntee – a nephew of former midfield general Gerry – dominating in the middle Meath ran at the Dubs and surged back into contention.

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The Royals got a break when William McGrath crashed home a great goal in the 20th minute to move three clear. But Dublin held their nerve and were rewarded when Ivory expertly picked out Scott Fulham to drill to the net in the 24th minute.

And with midfielder Emmet Ó Conghaile coming into the game with two excellent points, Dublin led by 1-9 to 1-6 at the break.

The Dubs tweaked their attack for the second half and an early blitz moved them clear of a Meath team who continued to threaten through Pádraig Harnan and Brian McMahon – but couldn’t better the Dublin defence.

It was a special day for Ciarán Kilkenny, Ó Conghaile, Costello and Eric Lowndes who were on the victorious Dublin minor hurling team against Kilkenny a week earlier.

DUBLIN: R O’Hanlon; G Hannigan, R McDaid, R Real; E Lowndes, J Small, J McCaffrey (0-2); P O’Higgins, E Ó Conghaile (0-2); D Campbell, G Ivory (0-6, one 45), C Costello (1-2); S Fulham (1-2), P Mannion (0-2), C Kilkenny (0-2, one free). Subs: S Carthy for Campbell (47 mins), E Archibald for Fulham, E Boyne for Lowndes (both 57 mins), R Noon for O Conghaile (60 mins).

MEATH: R Burlingham; A Forde (0-1), B McConnon, O Fitzpatrick; C Finn (0-1), S Melia, D Smith (0-1); P Harnan, S McEntee; N Shorthall (0-1, free), B O’Brien, C O’Sullivan (0-1); B McMahon (0-3, two frees), C Smith (0-1), W McGrath (1-1). Subs: R Farrelly for C Smith HT, S Mattimoe (0-1) for N Shorthall, N Hannon for A Forde (both 38 mins), O Sheridan for D Smith (47 mins), S Sheridan for W McGrath (55 mins).

Referee: F Kelly (Longford).

In the All-Ireland quarter- finals, Dublin will face Cork, while Meath will take on Tipperary. The Ulster (Armagh v Cavan) and Connacht (Roscommon v Galway) finals are on next Sunday with the winner of each meeting the loser from the other province.