News

Dubs and Royals must meet again

November 8, 2018

DUBLIN 2-15 MEATH 1-18
(After extra-time)


Dublin and Meath have provided plenty of drama and talking points over the decades and this OByrne Cup quarter-final supplied a few more on Sunday afternoon at Parnell Park.
It took a superb Colin Daly point in injury time in the second period of extra-time to earn the Dubs a replay (this Wed, Navan 7.45pm) but they were deserving of another day out.
The sides finished Dublin 1-11 Meath 0-14 at the end of normal time with Niall Mooney kicking the equaliser for the Royals in the fifth minute of added time after Dublin have squandered a couple of chances to kill the game off.
What the match lacked in quality at times it more than compensated in excitment and commitment with Meath the dominant force for most of the opening half but still only led 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time in normal time.
However, Kevin McManamon goaled in the 15th minute of the second half after being played through by Dean Rock to bring the sides level, 1-7 to 0-10. Sub Bernard Brogan kicked the next score, a fine effort from the left wing and briefly the Dubs looked that they had the momentum to carry them into the semi-finals.
The introduction of Stephen Bray helped the Meath cause and despite three points without reply from Michael Darragh MacAuley, the efficient Alan Hubbard and Brogan to edge the Dubs 1-11 to 0-13 clear it was Meath who had the final say deep into added time to force extra-time.
Dublin finished the first period of extra-time in a gallop with points from the impressive David Henry from long range and Brogan (free) followed quickly by a second goal from McManamon, when he expertly rifled the ball to the roof of the net to give his side a 2-13 to 0-15 lead at half-time in extra-time.
Importantly for Meath the got the opening score of the final period when Joe Sheridan exploited bad communication in the Dublin rearguard to fire to the net and despite a Kevin Bonner point it was mostly Meath down the final straight.
Points from Mooney and two (including one free) from influential full-forward Jamie Queeney almost had Meath in the winners enclosure until Daly kicked an inspired point from the stand side in the first minute of added time at the end of the game.
The names may have changed but these rivals are still good box office.

SCORERS – Dublin: K McManamon 2-0, B Brogan 0-3 (0-1f), D Kelly, D Henry 0-2 each, A Hubbard, MD MacAuley, T Diamond, J Brogan, B Kelly (0-1f), K Bonner, C Daly, D Rock 0-1 each. Meath: J Queeney 0-7 (0-2f), J Sheridan 1-2 (0-1 45, 0-1, sideline), N Mooney, D Bray (0-2f) 0-3 each, S Bray 0-2, G Reilly 0-1.
DUBLIN – S Cluxton; P Conlon, P Casey, C McCormack; A Hubbard, S Murray, D Nelson; E Fennell, MD MacAuley; J Brogan, T Diamond, D Henry; D Kelly, B Kelly, K McManamon. Subs: P Griffin for J Brogan (ht), D Rock for B Kelly (ht), B Brogan for D Kelly (44), D Carrigan for Diamond (48), K Bonner for Murray (53), G Brennan for Fennell (55, blood sub), O’Shaughnessy for Henry (82), Daly for MacAuley (80), J Brogan for Conlon (90).
MEATH – D Lyons; D Dalton, J Macken, E Harrington; S Kenny, C McGuinness, G Reilly; C Gillespie, M Ward; P Byrne, J Sheridan, N Mooney; D Bray, J Queeney, S Kennedy. Subs: G O’Brien for Kenny (10, inj), B Meade for Ward (h-t), N McKeigue for Harrington (41), S Bray for Kennedy (54), S Sheridan for Mooney (86).
REF – Eddie Kinsella (Laois).