DCU get one over on Meath

DCU 0-16 Meath 0-13:AFTER THE high of defeating Dublin four days earlier, Meath came down to earth with a bang when losing out to DCU at Navan's Páirc Tailteann in a game in which three players were sent off.

Longford referee Derek Fahy infuriated a section of the home support with his over-emphasis on whistling with the play stopped for trivial reasons.

Overall he flashed a total of eight yellow cards, five to DCU, and showed a straight red to Meath midfielder Brian Meade after 29 minutes, opponent Conor Rafferty having gone down.

Rafferty and Meath’s Barry Regan picked up second yellows in the closing stages as the students outscored the county team by six points to one in the last quarter.

For much of the game DCU depended a lot on Wexford county man Shane Roche for scores. He kicked six points in the first half at the end of which Meath led by 0-8 to 0-7. However, they only scored once more after Cian Ward left them leading by 0-12 to 0-10 after 48 minutes.

Points from Cathal Cregg (two), Brian Sheridan (free) and Paddy Andrews eased the students through to a final date with Louth. Sheridan, who came on in the closing stages, was one of two brothers on opposite sides, Meath’s Damien having earlier departed the scene.

DCU: M Boyle; M Bree, N Collins, E Culligan; S Shorthall, K Nolan, H Gill; R Cullivan (0-1, free), H McGrillen; C Cregg (0-2), M Lyng, D Bishop; P Andrews (0-3), C Rafferty (0-1), S Roche (0-8, seven frees). Subs: C Dunleavy for McGrillen (45 mins), W Mulhall for Lyng (54 mins), L O'Donovan for Roche (58 mins), B Sheridan (0-1, free)for Bishop (62 mins).

MEATH: P O'Rourke; S McAnarney, J Macken, N McKeigue; G O'Brien, B Regan, S Sheridan; N Crawford, B Meade; D Sheridan, N Mooney (0-1), O Lewis (0-2); S Bray (0-2), C Ward (0-8, six frees, one 45), S Kennedy. Subs: C O'Connor for S Sheridan (48 mins), M Burke for McAnarney, C Gillespie for D Sheridan (both 53 mins), P Byrne for Kennedy (60 mins).

Referee: D Fahy(Longford).