Brogan-inspired Dubs get past Meath

Dublin 1-12 Meath 1-10

Meath hit just three second-half points in front of a packed Croke Park as Dublin, inspired by goal hero Alan Brogan, clawed through to a Leinster SFC semi-final clash with Wexford.

Sean Boylan's Royals were pinned back into the second half, having led 1-07 to 1-05 at the break thanks to an early Joe Sheridan goals and the point-taking power of Brian Farrell and Seneschalstown veteran Graham Geraghty.

Starting with five championship newcomers, Meath were rightly underdogs but put up a stiff challenge to the Dubs with just a point between the sides with the match, which had the 65,865 attendance enthralled, heading for injury-time.

Kilmacud youngster Mark Vaughan, a former All-Ireland soccer champion with Blackrock College, pointed two late frees to ensure Paul Caffrey's second championship win as Dublin manager.

It could have go so wrong from the start for the Dubs as midfielder Ciaran Whelan got off lightly with a yellow card after leaving Nigel Crawford with a bloodied nose in the opening 16 seconds.

Niall Kelly and Geraghty, sporting a newly-dyed mohican haircut, both pointed for Meath in the early stages before Conal Keaney calmed Dublin nerves with a neat score.

Then Sheridan struck for his goal, latching onto a Geraghty pass and delaying his shot sufficiently before firing a right-footed shot bouncing in off Stephen Cluxton's crossbar.

Leinster Under-21 winning captain Bryan Cullen and Tomas Quinn replied with subsequent points as Caffrey's men showed no sign of a collapse at 1-02 to 0-03 down.

Geraghty drew over another point before Brogan slipped past David Crimmins to power a goal finish beyond the reach of Meath goalkeeper David Gallagher. The Dubs then took the lead on 17 minutes with a Keaney free.

1-04 apiece thanks to a first over from Nobber attacker Farrell, Meath brought loose for their two-point interval lead thanks to a wonder score from Geraghty from the right touchline and two more from the on-song Farrell.

The momentum was the NFL Division Two champions, but could they maintain their grip on the match in the second half?

The answer was an emphatic no as gradually, and territorially, the Dubs began to pick holes in the Royals defence.

Replacements Senan Connell and Vaughan made a difference up front. Brogan and Barry Cahill levelled the match for the fourth time at 1-07 each on the restart.

Suddenly Meath were two points down - Brogan again and Connell fired over from close range.

Crawford notched Meath's first point of the half but that was easily cancelled out by Brogan, who brought his tally to 1-03 for the afternoon.

With St Vincent's marksman Quinn off colour and boasting a poor record of five wides, four from placed balls, it was Brogan and Vaughan who saw Dublin home.

They did survive a goal chance at the back as Cahill reacted well to save a dipping Sheridan free on his own line before watching Keaney badly screw a goal shot of his own wide of the Meath goal.

Farrell's fourth point did leave just a point between the sides - 1-09 to 1-10 - with ten minutes remaining, but the cool-headed Vaughan pointed a 55-metre free to drew massive blue-tinged cheers from Hill 16.

He repeated the trick in injury-time, from closer in, following a Daithi Regan score at the other end. Caffrey's side should have been further in front but not even the late introduction of mercurial Meath forward Ollie Murphy could prevent the Dubs from progressing.