Young Dubs claim Flood Cup again

Jack McCaffrey lifted the Flood Cup last night as Dublin's dominance of Leinster football's under-21 grade was reinforced.

Their 11th title, and seventh this century, puts them one clear of last year’s champions Kildare on the roll of honour.

“Going anywhere to play any Meath team you always know you will be put to the pin of your collar,” said McCaffrey.

"It was our entire team performance that got us through. Even look at Shane Boland who didn't make the team but came in and had an unbelievable performance. There is nothing more to say."

Communicating
Of course there is plenty to say about Dublin football nowadays. It's just that the men involved do the majority of their communicating on the field.

Not that it matters now but there was a phoney war in the lead in. Meath offered to play Dublin in their Parnell Park lair. Dublin opted for a neutral venue away from the narrow confines of their home sod. That left Portlaoise as the only alternative with floodlights.

About 2,000 supporters journeyed to the midlands.

The wide open spaces of O’Moore Park certainly suited Dessie Farrell’s thoroughbreds, whom he has nurtured since their early teens, as they raced into a 0-7 to 0-3 half-time lead.

But that score was misleading. Nervy, uncertain Meath were gobbling up Lorcan Molloy’s kick-outs but eight wides in the opening stanza proved costly.

Especially against this Dublin crop, some of whom already own Celtic Crosses. McCaffrey, Paul Mannion and Cormac Costello – albeit in fits and starts – lit up the senior championship last summer.

McCaffrey took the award for best young player in the country in 2013 but not before trailing in sprints to Eamon Wallace. The Meath flyer missed out last night through injury but younger brother Joey looked faster still.

The Royals also felt the loss of Cillian O'Sullivan, although Dublin could point to the absence of Ciarán Kilkenny.

Endeavour
But Meath needed to take every chance that came their way. They failed in this endeavour.

For all Dublin’s pedigree they must surely feel they left a minor All-Ireland title behind them in 2011. Even if Tipperary beat them fairly that day.

That’s what this Meath side – littered with graduates from the 2012 minors who lost both trophy deciders to Dublin – were soaring towards but Molloy’s penalty save on 21 minutes kept them grounded.

It was a decent strike by the otherwise excellent Bobby O’Brien, high and to the left, only to be expertly palmed away by the St Anne’s man.

With Stephen Cluxton suspended, no better time for a Dublin goalkeeper to be showing off.

Molloy's cause was further enhanced by the game's outstanding performer, Shane Carthy, finally wrestling back control of midfield before the interval. That allowed Dublin to flood forward and some neat interplay between Costello and Boland presented Conor McHugh with a sight of goal. His belting shot bounced off the black spot.

So Meath disappeared four points in arrears but trailed by seven before they could settle into the second half. Costello stretched his tally to 0-5 before Farrell replaced him with Emmet Ó Conghaile after 47 minutes.

That looked an awfully comfortable cushion.

And so it proved, with Dublin running out the victors, for a fourth time in six years, without needing a score from Mannion.