Meath lose out in penalty shootout

Meath’s defence of the O'Byrne Cup ended in high drama in Parnell Park tonight as Dublin proved much more effective from the penalty spot and beat their visitors 3-1 in a shootout after the pulsating semi-final ended 1-12 each. Mickey Newman or Barry Dardis won’t want to watch a replay of their respective penalties as they skied them over the bar, while Thomas O'Reilly had his kick saved. Sean Tobin was the only Meath player to find the net as Aaron Byrne, Oisin Lynch and Conor McHugh all netted to send Dublin through to next Friday's final against Westmeath. The game had ended in a flurry of excitement with Dublin looking like they had won it when Conor McHugh burst through to fist over the bar in the fifth minute of injury time, referee Fergal Kelly allowed play to continue and Newman converted a 20-metre free after Donal Keogan was fouled to send the tie to a shootout. In reality Meath should have beaten what was effectively a Dublin third string, but the 22nd minute sin-binning of Seamus Lavin proved costly as Dublin scored 1-2 in that spell to get back into the game against the wind. The hugely entertaining opening period started brightly with Meath on the front foot, turning over possession and leading to a fine score for Darragh Campion. Dublin responded through Oisin Lynch, but Meath continued to be the better side with Ben Brennan and Mickey Newman from a mark stretching the visitors lead to 0-3 to 0-1. Ryan Basquel kept Dublin in touch with a point, but then the introduction of Graham Reilly as a blood sub for Niall Hickey lead to a purple patch with Reilly finishing brilliantly to the net after an excellent move involving Adam Flanagan and Brennan. Three minutes later Newman added his second point, this one from a free, to make it 1-4 to 0-2, but Dublin's fringe stars were determined to make a name for themselves and they stayed in the game with scores from Lynch and Stephen Smith (free). A blatant thrown pass from Brennan set up Reilly for another point for Meath, but as the intensity levels rose the scoring chances lessened with Meath leading by 1-5 to 0-4 after 19 minutes. Dublin had a clear penalty shout waved away despite Robbie McDaid being hauled down by Brennan, but after Seamus Lavin was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for a black card offence the hosts narrowed the deficit with scores from Smith (free) and Sean Bugler. Campion settled Meath with a brilliant point and in the 29th minute Newman’s wayward free from 55 metres was deemed to have gone over the bar by one umpire and the score stood to make it 1-7 to 0-6. Frustrated by that error from the officials Dublin dominated the closing stages of the half and with Lavin still in the sin-bin they cut through the heart of the Meath defence to put the ball on a plate for McDaid to palm to the net and in the final minute of the period Basquel lofted over the equaliser to ensure parity at the break, 1-7 each. Scores were scarce after the resumption, but it took Reilly just 36 seconds to edge Meath ahead again. However Dublin responded well with the wind at their backs and they went in front for the first time when Byrne and Basquel found their range to make it 1-9 to 1-8 after just 39 minutes. The remaining 36 minutes, including injury-time produced just seven scores and two of those came in the dramatic closing seconds. Campion restored parity a minute after Dublin went ahead for the first time, but Meath couldn’t get their noses in front again. Basquel made it 1-10 to 1-9 as Newman had a goal chance well smothered by Andy Bunyan, but the Kilmainham man did draw Meath level in the 57th minute with another free. A brilliant run through the heart of the Meath defence led to a fisted point for Sean McMahon as Dublin edged clear again, but within seconds of coming on as a substitute James Conlon had Meath level again, 1-11. The closing minutes were full of drama with Ciaran Reddin sent to the sin-bin before the late exchange of scores forced a penalty shootout where Dublin prevailed.

Meath – Barry Dardis; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Niall Kane; Bryan Menton, Adam Flanagan; Niall Hickey, Darragh Campion (0-3), Danny Quinn; Ben Brennan (0-1), Mickey Newman (0-5 four frees, one mark), Thomas O'Reilly. Subs – Graham Reilly (1-2) for Hickey (blood 6mins), Hickey for Reilly 22m, Mark Brennan for Dardis, Gavin McCoy for Quinn, Reilly for Hickey all half-time, Sean Tobin for Brennan 49m, James Conlon (0-1) for Campion 64m.

Dublin – Andy Bunyan; Nathan Doran, Sean McMahon (0-1), Ciaran Smith; Cian O'Connor, Conor Mullally, Robert McDaid (1-0); Darren Gavin, Cormac Howley; Ryan Basquel (0-4), Aaron Byrne (0-1), Sean Bugler (0-1); Stephen Smith (0-2 frees), Callum Pearson, Oisin Lynch (0-2). Subs – Conor McHugh (0-1) for Smith , Ciaran Reddin for Howley both 46 mins, Andrew McGowan for Byrne, Shane Boland for Doran both 54m, Gerry Seaver for Basquel 64m, Jack Hazley for Bugler 70m.

Referee – Fergal Kelly (Longford).