Dublin find that bit extra

O'BYRNE CUP SHIELD FINAL: Dublin 2-16 Meath 2-14:DUBLIN EVENTUALLY got the upper hand on their old rivals Meath after extra-time to claim the O'Byrne Shield following a hugely entertaining encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Despite points in the opening minute from Brian Farrell and Joe Sheridan, Dublin were dominant in the first half, with Kevin McManamon impressing at centre forward and Tomás Quinn’s clinically-taken goal helping the hosts to a 1-9 to 0-7 interval lead.

Dublin maintained their advantage through points from Quinn and substitute Bryan Cullen to lead by six points with four minutes remaining but Meath, guilty of errant finishing throughout, rallied superbly through a Sheridan penalty and points by Cian Ward, Conor Gillespie and Paddy Gilsenan to force extra-time.

The Dubs regained the initiative when Paddy Andrews fed Cullen for Dublin’s second goal which was negated by Sheridan’s second at the end of the first period.

The tie was finally settled by a free from Bernard Brogan and an Andrews point.

DUBLIN:S Cluxton; D Daly, S Murray, M Fitzsimons; D Lally (0-1), G Brennan, P Casey; D Bastick, C Murphy; D Kelly, K McManamon (0-4), D Connolly (0-2); B Brogan (0-4, frees), G Cullen (0-1), T Quinn (1-1). Subs:P Flynn for Connolly (half-time), B Cullen (1-1) for McManamon (44), A Brogan for Cullen (51), B Cahill (0-1) for Murphy, A Hubbard for Fitzsimons (both 56), J McCarthy for Daly (70), MD Macauley for Bastick, P Andrews (0-1) for Quinn, W Lowry for Kelly, M Savage for Cluxton (all 71 mins), C McKiernan for Casey (82), McManamon for Brogan, Quinn for Lally (both 87), Bastick for Brennan (90 mins).

MEATH:P O'Rourke; G O'Brien, K Reilly, C King; S Kenny, B Menton, C McGuinness; M Ward, C Gillespie (0-1); S McAnarney, S O'Rourke (0-4, one free), D Morgan; P Gilsenan (0-1), J Sheridan (2-2, 1-0 pen), B Farrell (0-1). Subs:G Reilly (0-3) for Morgan (29), B Meade for K Reilly (half-time), N Crawford for Ward, A Moyles for Farrell (both 43), C Ward (0-2, one free) for McGuinness (56 mins), B Farrell for Gilsenan (75), D Dalton for McAnarney (78), D Keogan for Kenny (89).

Referee:S Carroll (Westmeath)