Dunshaughlin advance to first senior final in 13 years

You don't always get what you want, but Dunshaughlin certainly got what they needed as they booked their place in the SFC final for the first time since 2011 with a nerve-wracking 0-11 to 0-10 victory over St Peter's at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.

Billed as a heavyweight clash of the two most exciting teams in Meath football this semi-final never quite scaled those lofty heights, although it was an intriguing battle throughout with Dunshaughlin's more measured control the difference in a game of fine margins.

St Peter's will rue their 12 wides and rash decision making against the wind. Dunshaughlin were more poised, they didn't take many risks therefore didn't make too many mistakes.

In Ruairi Kinsella Dunshaughlin had a scoring leader who stepped up when others had to influence the game in different ways, in Niall Byrne they had an inspiration who covered every blade of grass, who was involved in every play and who was the beating heart of his side's win.

Cruelly is came down to two frees in injury-time.

One was a tap over on the hour mark for Luke Mitchell after the ball was moved to the 20-metre line after dissent to the referee following Cian Smith's foul on Ciaran McCarrick.

Three minutes later Donal Lenihan had a chance to equalise when the excellent Seamus Lavin was fouled by Conor Duke. However Lenihan's free was from 45 metres with a breeze blowing across his face.

Five minutes earlier Lenihan had nailed one from a similar distance, but the angle favoured him. His equalising opportunity was dead straight in front of the posts, a much more difficult kick with the wind causing a stir.

As soon a Lenihan struck it his hands went to his head. The ball didn't curl from right to left as he would have wished and when the resultant kickout brought David Gough's final whistle it sparked jubilant, but understated, celebrations from the Dunshaughlin players.

They had survived a battle - just, but deservedly.

A much more open, free-flowing contest was expected, but both sides set out their stalls to be difficult to breakdown and that led to a disappointing contest.

Few would have expected just 21 scores in a game between these two swashbuckling sides, only 12 of those were from play and none were a goal!

There was never more than two points between the sides.

Cathal Lacey opened the scoring in the second minute with a fisted point before Mitchell nailed a superb '45' to level it up.

A turnover in defence led to a point for Ronan Jones to restore St Peter's lead, but they wasted chances with Mark Furlong standing in the square when he palmed over the bar - the point was disallowed, but he should not have been in the square and he should have found the net - fine margins.

The outstanding Kinsella and Lacey traded points before Lenihan registered his first to put two between the sides for the first time, 0-4 to 0-2.

Three of the next four scores went Dunshaughlin's way to restore parity (0-5 each) with two from Costello (one free) and one from Kinsella, in response to another Lenihan free.

Furlong did get on the scoresheet to restore St Peter's lead, but a superb score from Kinsella ensured the teams were tied at the break, 0-6 each.

Scores were scare after the resumption and it took Dunshaughlin until the fourth minute of the second period to establish a lead with Kinsella doing the damage. Ninety seconds later Ben Duggan extended that lead to two.

St Peter's continued to be wasteful and it was another six minutes before Lenihan converted a free after he was fouled following a stray kickout.

Two more frees from Lenihan either side of the three quarters mark edged the Dunboyne men into a 0-9 to 0-8 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining.

However, they managed just one more point, that exquisite kick from 45 metres from Lenihan, while before that score Kinsella and Aaron Murphy restored Dunshaughlin's advantage.

Just as the four minutes of added time were announced McCarrick was fouled. Mitchell converted the free and try as they might St Peter's could not get back on terms.

Dunshaughlin - Tim O'Sullivan; Niall Byrne, Daryll McKenna, Ben Duggan (0-1); Ciaran McCarrick, Jared Rushe, Adam Kealy; Charlie O'Connor, Conor Gray; David Fildes, Ruairi Kinsella (0-5), Conor Duke; Aaron Murphy (0-1), Mathew Costello (0-2 one free), Luke Mitchell (0-2 one free, one '45'). Subs - John McDonagh for Fildes, Fursey Blake for McKenna both 42m, Fergus Toolan for Gray 54m, Fiach Hartigan for Duggan 59m.

St Peter's - Liam Byrne; Jack Scannell, Seamus Lavin, Mark Furlong (0-1); Craig Lowndes, Shane McEntee, Sean Ryan; Jack Kinlough, Ronan Jones (0-1); Stuart Lowndes, Cathal Finn, Cathal Lacey (0-2); Michael Murphy, David McEntee, Donal Lenihan (0-6 frees). Subs - Conor Doran for Finn 36m, Cian Smith for Lacey 54m, Luke Carolan for D McEntee 58m.

Referee - David Gough (Slane).