GAELIC GAMES: Meath 1-10 Dublin 1-9:A PITCH invasion after an O'Byrne Cup game in January. That was the scenario at Navan's Páirc Tailteann last night after Meath snatched a dramatic replay victory over rivals Dublin.
Although the home side were the dominant force in the first period, the visitors llied strongly after the change of ends and looked likely winners.
However, Meath, boosted by a Jamie Queeney, got out the spades to dig deep and centre - After being the dominant force in the first period, the home the Dubs
rallied strongly after the change of ends and looked likely winners. However, Meath back Cormac McGuinness put over the the decisive score with the last kick of the contest.
It was the first appearance by a Dublin senior football team at the venue since 1988 and fielding a much-changed format from the Parnell Park tussle with just five players starting again, they received a generous round of applause from the local supporters before the start.
With both sides making a number of errors, the game took a while to catch fire and the sides shared seven wides (four by Meath) in the opening quarter.
With the home full back trio of Davy Dalton (son of the former Kildare defender of the same name), James Macken and Niall McKeigue giving little away, it took Dublin 22 minutes to get their first score.
Meath were making better use of their scoring opportunities and full forward Queeney, who shot five points three days earlier, maintained such impressive form, giving his side an early lead. The advantage was doubled with Joe Sheridan getting to the end of a Davy Bray free.
The standard and the scoring rate improved in the second quarter as Dublin were outplayed to an alarming rate with two Bernard Brogan efforts being their only scores in the opening half.
Meath led by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break and would not have been flattered by a wider margin.
The lead could have been more but for some solid defending by the visitors’ full back Ross McConnell. Bray and newcomer Ollie Lewis had been on target before Brogan erased Dublin’s blank from the board.
But they were making heavy work of the task in hand and Bray and Queeney converted frees before midfielder Brian Meade, with a shot in off an upright, completed Meath’s first-half tally.
Pat Gilroy must have had some hard words for his charges during the interval for they resumed in a much more positive manner. They earned a penalty 30 seconds after the throw-in with Colin Daly being fouled by Macken.
However, Brogan’s spot kick was well saved by David Lyons.
Dublin, and Brogan in particular, recovered well from that setback to edge into the leadd 14 minutes into the second period. Points from a free and play by the corner forward reduced then arrears to the minimum before Brogan fired to the net to give Dublin a 1-6 to 0-8 lead on 49 minutes.
Then Queeney had the sides level for the first time. After Brogan regained the advantage from a free, Queeney struck for a goal, firing home after taking a pass from Cian Ward.
They were on equal terms twice more and just when extra-time looked likely McGuinness moved up field to delight the home fans.
MEATH:D Lyons; D Dalton, J Macken, N McKeigue; G O'Brien, C McGuinness (0-1), S Sheridan; M Kennedy, B Meade (0-1); P Byrne, J Sheridan (0-1), O Lewis (0-1); D Bray (0-3, 2f), J Queeney (1-3, 2f), S Kennedy. Subs: M Ward for M Kennedy (19 mins), C Ward for S Kennedy (h-t), S Bray for J Sheridan (36 mins), P O'Rourke for Lyons (52 mins), G Reilly for Byrne (65 mins).
DUBLIN:C Reilly; P Conlon, R McConnell, C McCormack; P Casey, B Sexton, C Guckian; D Carrigan, E Fennell (0-2); D Kelly (0-1), K Bonner (0-1), S O'Shaughnessy; A Kerin, C Daly, B Brogan (1-5, 2f). Subs: D Watson for Kerin (22 mins), S Murray for Guckian, T Diamond for O'Shaughnessy (both h-t), N O'Connor for Conlon (55 mins), L Fleming for Sexton (58 mins).
Referee:P Fox (Westmeath).
