Most of the scores came from frees as Dunshaughlin became the first team since Skryne in 1993 to retain the Meath senior football title when proving too strong for their neighbours in a disappointing decider at Navan's Pβirc Tailteann yesterday.
Only four of the 16 points were registered from play and Ken O'Connell's goal seven minutes after the restart was the only such score in the second half during which the holders emphasised their superiority.
Although the winners' chief marksman Martin Reilly sent over six of his seven points - the first of them was from play - Dunshaughlin stamped their authority on proceedings between the two 45-metre lines and their opponents were forced into repeatedly fouling to stem the strong black and amber tide.
After showing up well for a while in the first half during which Skryne led by two points three times, John McDermott was blotted out of the game to a large extent with Graham Dowd and Dermot Kealy ruling at midfield.
Two points from Dowd helped Dunshaughlin to be on level terms at the break and then Dermot Kealy earned a free from which Reilly put them ahead for the first time immediately after the restart.
O'Connell's goal came against the run of play with the full forward blasting to the net after former Clare countyman Bryan McMahon missed a chance.
But Dunshaughlin didn't become rattled and Richie Kealy had them on level terms within a minute.
Meath forward Richie Kealy, who was in magnificent form when his club landed the title for the first time last year, had a quiet outing this time but the side in black and amber showed that they are far from a one-man band.
All over the pitch Dunshaughlin had better ball winners than their opponents with Skryne particularly weak up front where the switching of Trevor Giles to centre back - a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul - left them bereft of attacking power.
After drawing level, Eamonn Barry's charges outscored their opponents by four Reilly points to one sent over by Giles, who moved to midfield in the closing stages.
DUNSHAUGHLIN: R Gogan; F Gogan, K McTigue, C Byrne; R Yore, A Kealy, Denis Kealy; G Dowd (0-2), Dermot Kealy; N Kelly (0-1, free), M McHale, M Reilly (0-7, six frees); R Kealy (0-1, free), D Crimmins, T Dowd.
SKRYNE: F O'Rourke; J Quinn, M Harrington, M Mulvaney; J Gibbons, T Giles (0-2, frees), D Donnelly; G Geraghty, J McDermott; P O'Donnell, M O'Dowd (0-2, frees), B Smyth; A Carty, K O'Connell (1-0), B McMahon (0-1). Subs: R Mulvaney for Geraghty, C Murphy for O'Donnell (both 52 mins), K Pentony for Carty (61 mins).
Referee: E McDonnell (St Michael's).
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