GAA: Dublin rue missed chances

Dublin 0-14 2-11 Meath

Sean Boylan lead Meath to his 8th provincial title as they withstood a second half Dublin onslaught in this enthralling Leinster Senior Football championship final at Croke park.

Dublin for all their second-half possession were unable to translate this into scores and were left to rue their missed chances, particularly in the last quarter, as goals in each half from Graham Geraghty and Richie Kealy helped Meath on their way to the title.

As for the openin 15 minutes, it was a period in which both sides tested their resolve, with some crunching tackles and off-the-ball incidents keeping referee Michael Curley extremely busy.

In Dublin' first real attack, Jason Sherlock should have goaled after 2 minutes but blazed the ball across Cormac O'Sullivan and wide.

After 5 minutes Meath demonstrated why they are always such a defiant side.

Ollie Murphy lofted a high ball into the square which goalie Davy Byrne dropped and full forward Graham Geraghty was on hand to flick into the net.

Donal Curtis had increased the Meath lead, before a Wayne McCarthy pointed free opened Dublin's account after 11 minutes.

Both sides managed two points apiece, Evan Kelly and Trevor Giles for Meath, with Dublin's Colm Moran and Dessie Farrell responding.

Although Darren Harmon was winning an amount of midfield possession it was an Evan Kelly-inspired Meath who lead 1-6 0-5 at half-time.

Dublin opened the second half in storming fashion reducing the deficit from points by Ciaran Whelan and Colm Moran.

Then it was Trevor Giles's turn to pick out Ollie Murphy who fielded a high ball before pointing.

But as the Meath fans were settling back, Dublin stormed into the attack resulting in Ciaran Whelan and Dessie Farrell points, to leave the minimum separating the sides, 1-7 to 0-9 after 42 mins.

Meath edged back into a 0-9 to 1-9 lead through Donal Curtis and Trevor Giles, before Wayne McCarthy pulled a point back for Dublin.

Meath withstood a period of Dublin pressure before responding with a great Richie Kealy 56 minute goal to lead 2-9 to 0-10.

With Meath leading by 2-10 to 0-13 Dublin made numerous chances of getting level before the Royal county substitute Ray Magee pointed a free 2 minutes from the end to leave 4 separating the sides.

Although Colm Moran left three points separating the sides in the closing minutes, Meath held out under intense pressure to lift the title as Dublin were left to look back on a game of missed chances.