Dubs discover killer instinct
Dublin were winners in Croke Park yesterday for the unusual reason that they killed off the opposition. And, they did so impressively — when it really mattered, in the closing five minutes. At the second attempt they qualified for a Leinster SFC semi-final meeting with Offaly next Sunday, inspired by the contribution of eight points from promoted free-taker Mark Vaughan and helped ultimately by weak Meath finishing when it seemed they might force extra time.
Meath fought with typical guts and determination but didn’t enjoy the best of luck and their challenge was undermined when Graham Geraghty’s early threat fizzled out because of a lack of possession. Unlike the drawn game, when they put over five unanswered points in 18 minutes, Dublin never really reproduced the same quality over a lengthy period. On the other hand, they played throughout with the self-assurance of a team which expected to finish in front.
