Meath sink Dublin with late goal
Meath opened their Leinster MFL campaign with a merited 1-11 to 0-13 victory over Dublin at Ashbourne this evening in what was a first competitive game for new manager Eoin Carroll.
The conditions made it difficult for both teams and wind-assisted Dublin looked good in the opening half as they established a 0-9 to 0-3 advantage with three Daire Rowe points sustaining what looked like a forlorn Meath challenge.
Meath also lost full-back Charlie Bird to injury after 10 minutes and had lost Bryan Harnan and Jordan McLoughlin, who were both named in the starting 15, before throw-in.
Dublin still looked likely to win after the resumption and were ahead by 0-12 to 0-7 at the three-quarter stage, but the Royal County dug deep, restricted Dublin to one more score and snatched victory near the end.
Rowe finished to the net off the post on the stroke of full-time to tie the scores and substitute Sean Meade pointed the winner.
Meath will host Limerick next week in the second round and thast will be followed by a midweek joust with Carlow on 19th February.
Dublin included Ratoath resident Shane Clayton, who plays with Ballyboden St Enda's, at full-back
Meath - Johnny Lynch (Moynalty); Tomás McGuinness (Rathkenny), Charlie Bird (Boardsmill), Dan Ormsby (Dunshaughlin); Adam Carey (Seneschalstown), Iarla Hughes (Summerhill), Jack O’Connor (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Kyle Dixon (Boardsmill), Evan Hendrick (Na Fianna); Dylan Brady (Donaghmore / Ashbournen 0-1), James Cullen (Trim 0-2), Shane Cumiskey (Dunboyne); Ross Ryan (Summerhill), Daire Rowe (Syddan 1-6 four frees), David McEntee (Dunboyne).
Subs - Jack Reid (Syddan 0-1) for Bird 10 mins, Ronan Regan (Summerhill) for McGuinness and Stephen Crosbie (Rathkenny) for O’Connor both half-time, David McLoughlin (Moynalvey) for McEntee and Ronan Jones (Dunboyne) for Hendrick both 40m, Sean Power (St Ultan’s) for Cullen 46m, Jack Giles (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Brady and Shane Walsh (Dunsany) for Carey both 52m, Sean Meade (Nobber 0-1) for Cumiskey 54m.
Video shows Meath goal.
Conall Collier