Meath edged out of Leinster MFC by Dublin
Meath lost out to Dublin (1-13 to 1-15) in the Leinster MFC at Parnell Park after extra-time yesterday where they surrendered a 10-point interval and now face the back door route.
Meath played some outstanding, enterprising and exciting football in the opening half after weathering an early Dublin storm that saw the hosts hit the post from a Ross McGarry drive and fire a couple of wides
Meath scored on their first two breakaway attacks with Paddy Conway on target in the third minute and Sean Martin blasting a goal chance over three minutes later.
Doran did eventually open the Dublin account in the seventh minute and the tit-for-tat nature of the opening quarter continued with points from Jordan Morris and Walsh (free) either side of a second point for Doran increasing Meath's lead to 0-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.
Andrew Beakey did well to tip a dipping Daniel Brennan effort away and on the counterattack more amazing tenacity from Morris helped set up Walsh for his first from play.
A minute later Frayne showed enormous strength to hold off several challenges before blasting a brilliant goal to the roof of the net to stretch Meath's lead to 1-5 to 0-2.
Dublin continued to threaten and Beakey had to be alert to keep out Archer's effort from a narrow angle, but after Ryan cut the deficit to 0-3 to 1-5 in the 21st minute it was all Meath for the remainder of the half.
Walsh clipped over his second from play after a quick, clever free from Liam Byrne and the brilliant scores kept coming with Frayne and dual player Adam Murphy making it 1-8 to 0-3.
On the prompting of manager Colm Coyle Morris was in the right place to deflect Walsh's short free over the bar and as the half drew to a close the Nobber player added his third to ensure a 1-10 to 0-3 interval lead for Meath.
The reversal of fortunes in the second period was remarkable. Dublin threw everything at Meath and with their backs to the wall it took Meath almost 25 minutes to get their next score.
Archer was central to Dublin's recovery as he arrowed over the first two points after the break and by the three-quarters markDoran and Archer pointed again to make it 0-7 to 1-10.
Doran and Ross McGarry closed that deficit further before Walsh looked to have settled Meath with their 11th point in the 55th minute, but two minutes later Dublin had their goal and Meath started to unravel as Robbie Clarke was sent off on receipt of a black card having picked up a yellow earlier after Dublin had scored their equaliser to force extra time which also went against Meath.
Dublin - D O'Hanlon; L Flatman, P O Cofaigh-Byrne, A Lynch; K Kennedy, N Matthews, E O'Dea; D Ryan (0-1), M Tracey (0-1); N O'Leary, J Doran (1-5), D Brennan; R McGarry (0-2 one free), S Hawkshaw, C Archer (0-6 one free).
Subs - D Lacey for Brennan, K Lynch-Bissett for Hawkshaw both half-time, A Byrne for O'Leary 41 mins. Extra-time - D Lacey for Tracey, G Nangle for Kennedy.
Meath - Andrew Beakey (St Colmcille's); Sean Ryan (Dunboyne), Dan Devine (Na Fianna), Robbie Clarke (Skryne); Adam Murphy (Moynalvey 0-1), John Keane (Summerhill), Jack Hetherington (Dunshaughlin); Cian Swaine (Clann na nGael), Liam Byrne (Dunboyne); Conal Ahearne (Ratoath), Sean Martin (Na Fianna 0-1), Paddy Conway (Dunboyne 0-1); Jordan Morris (Nobber 0-3), Shane Walsh (Na Fianna 0-6 three frees), Conor Frayne (Summerhill 1-1).
Subs - Robert Smyth (Oldcastle) for Conway 41 mins, Saran O Fionnagain (Wolfe Tones) for Morris 50m, Caolan Ward (Wolfe Tones) for Hetherington 53m, Liam Shaw (Summerhill) for Ahearne 57m.
Extra-time - R Clarke replaced by Niall Mulvey (Longwood), Joey Donnelly (Kilbride) for Keane, Dan Comiskey (Dunboyne) for Swaine, Morris for Donnelly. Black card - A Murphy (replaced by Conway extra-time).