LET’S HOPE LEINSTER GAA CHAIRMAN DEREK KENT WAS IN CROKE PARK FOR DUBLIN VS MEATH

Leinster GAA chairperson Derek Kent recently proclaimed that the provincial championships are “alive and kicking”.

Hopefully the Wexford man was among the 21,445 at Croke Park last Sunday to witness just how alive the football championship was as Dublin strolled to a 16-point victory against their once greatest adversaries in this quarter-final tie.

It was more a case of dead but still kicking as one of the great days on the GAA calendar, which, in times passed, was a guaranteed sellout, is well beyond a formality at this stage. Since 2012, Dublin has defeated Meath on eight different occasions by an average of 11.5 points. In the last meeting, in 2022, it was 13 points and this latest hammering reinforced the views of both managers, Colm O’Rourke and Dessie Farrell, that the competition is in dire need of an overhaul.

Meath, to their credit, got one thing right; they were still in the game at half-time, something that hasn’t always happened. They were well-organised for the most part and went toe-to-toe with the All-Ireland champions for the opening 25 minutes. However, the longer the game progressed the wider the margin became and one felt that Dublin were operating at a few gears below what they were capable of.

Even Farrell found little to get worked up about and described his side’s display as ‘flat’ at best, similar to the atmosphere generated by the small attendance, when interviewed afterwards.

It gave Farrell an opportunity to ease Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons and James McCarthy back into action but apart from that, he had nothing to be enthusiastic about.

After scoring the opening two points inside four minutes, Meath eventually trailed by 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time. And when Dublin added two further points on the restart, all the indications were that the second half was going to be a painful watch from a Meath viewpoint.

Overall, Dublin were less than impressive and made some uncharacteristic mistakes but they were still streets ahead in most aspects of the game as Meath failed to execute the basics and were duly punished.

On numerous occasions in both halves, Meath kicked away possession far too cheaply, while they enjoyed more success from Cluxton’s kickouts than their own.

Dublin had three changes from the team announced earlier in the week with veterans Cluxton and Fitzsimons, along with Paul Mannion, coming into the starting line-up. It was widely known that Shane Walsh had suffered a serious injury in training during the week and wouldn’t start but the inclusion of Billy Hogan between the posts at the expense of Seán Brennan was a shock.

O’Rourke explained afterwards that the Dunderry man had an injury that affected his kickouts but his poor form in the win over Longford was probably a more logical reason.

As it turned out, Hogan, who had only one previous competitive outing, against Donegal in the league, under his belt, couldn’t be faulted for any of the goals but his kickouts were a reason why Dublin was so dominant.

On numerous occasions, they didn’t reach their intended destination and there is no better team in the country than Dublin to capitalise on those shortcomings.

Darragh Campion and Ronan Jones (mark) had Meath’s early points and in those early stages, they frustrated Dublin with solid defence.

Mannion opened the Dubs’ account and Ciarán Kilkenny hit the equaliser after Meath gave possession away on 13 minutes. Mathew Costello replied to a Mannion free to leave it 0-3 each but that was as good as it got for the challengers.

Con O’Callaghan rattled the crossbar on 17 minutes and two minutes later, Seán Bugler finished a flowing move to the net but if VAR was in operation, the score would have been disallowed as the wing-back took about 12 steps before unleashing to the roof of the net.

Mannion, from a free and then play, added quickfire points and, suddenly, Dublin were ahead by 1-5 to 0-3. Meath, though, battled back well with fine scores by Eoghan Frayne and Jordan Morris. Dublin outscored them three points to one from there to half-time with Frayne, from a free, accounting for the Meath score.

Niall Scully (mark) and John Small extended the lead on the restart before Morris notched a score following a good run by substitute Jack O’Connor. O’Connor, who was introduced at the start of the second half, looked bright and had Meath’s only real goal opportunity, which was blocked on 44 minutes.

Morris and James Conlon both picked off points and there was still six points between the sides after Ciarán Caulfield pointed on 51 minutes. Dublin, though, was beginning to attack with real menace and Kilkenny, Mannion and John Small all pointed before they struck for their second goal on the hour mark.

It was scored by Mannion, who pulled on a loose ball that was delivered into his path by Paddy Small. That left it 2-16 to 0-10 and Meath’s two remaining points came from placed balls scored by Frayne and Hogan (45).

Dublin hit the final two scores, a point by Paddy Small and then a goal by O’Callaghan just before the final whistle.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, Michael Fitzsimons, Cian Murphy 0-1; Seán Bugler 1-0, John Small 0-2, Seán McMahon; Tom Lahiff, Brian Howard; Ross McGarry, Colm Basquel 0-2, Ciarán Kilkenny 0-3; Paul Mannion 1-6 (0-3f), Con O’Callaghan 1-2 (0-1m), Niall Scully 0-1 (1m). Subs: Subs: James McCarthy for Basquel (50), Paddy Small 0-1 for Howard (52), Killian McGinnis for McGarry (61), Cormac Costello 0-1 for Mannion (61), Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne for J Small (66).

MEATH: Billy Hogan 0-1 (1 45); Donal Keogan, Adam O’Neill, Harry O’Higgins; Seán Coffey, Ross Ryan, Ciarán Caulfield 0-1; Ronan Jones 0-1 (1m), Dáithí McGowan; Darragh Campion 0-1, Mathew Costello 0-1 (1f), Cathal Hickey; Jordan Morris 0-3, Eoghan Frayne 0-3 (2f), James Conlon 0-1. Subs: Jack O’Connor for Campion (HT), Cian McBride for McGowan (45), Ruairí Kinsella for Morris (58), Keith Curtis for Ryan (58), Aaron Lynch for Conlon (62).

REFEREE: Thomas Murphy (Galway)

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2024-04-15T15:25:28Z dg43tfdfdgfd