Dublin struggle past a poor Meath side

Dublin 0-14 Meath 0-12

Dublin’s mediocre display was just enough to see them over the finish line in a disappointing Leinster SFC tie at Croke Park.

Going for a fifth successive provincial title, the Dubs struggled to put away a limited Meath challenge.

And of most concern to new manager Pat Gilroy is a wides tally of 17 from a side that managed just three points in the second half.

Conal Keaney converted two early frees and Paddy Andrews tagged on a point to get the Dubs off to a positive start, after Darren Magee had failed to take advantage of a golden goal chance when sent clear by Keaney.

The Royals were on the back foot in those early stages, but suddenly it started to happen for them, and in a golden six minute spell, they scored all five of their first-half points.

Cian Ward (2), Shane McAnarney, Mark Ward and Stephen Bray all hit the target, but Dublin’s total dominance of the midfield battle saw them recover to score eight points in the final 15 minutes of the half.

Dublin totally dominated the second quarter. The Brogan brothers, Alan and Bernard, Mark Davoren and centre back Brennan powered over points, and it could have been worse for a flagging Royal side had their opponents not hit nine wides and missed a couple of decent goal chances.

Dublin led by 0-11 to 0-5 at the break, but Meath, now with wind advantage, started the second half with renewed purpose. Within eight minutes they had trimmed the deficit back to two.

As the clock slipped past the 50-minute mark, the Dubs led by just three, and Meath were just about hanging in.

Veterans Ciaran Whelan and Jason Sherlock were sprung from the bench, and Meath sensed fragility and nervousness in the Dublin psyche as the wides continued to mount.

Brian Farrell’s second point of the half narrowed the gap to two with 13 minutes to play, but it was free-kicker Keaney’s cool head and accurate left boot that held things together for the Metropolitans.

His fifth conversion of the contest gave his side some breathing space at the end of a difficult period, and it proved to be just enough to secure the provincial champions’ passage to the second round.

Dublin: S Cluxton; D Henry, D Bastick, A Hubbard; P Griffin, G Brennan (0-1), B Cahill; R McConnell, D Magee; P Flynn, P Andrews (0-1), B Brogan (0-2, 1f); C Keaney (0-5, 5f), M Davoren (0-2), A Brogan (0-3).

Subs: C Whelan for McConnell (49), J Sherlock for B Brogan (49), P Burke for Davoren (54), D Connolly for Andrews (59), Blaine Kelly for Flynn (70)

Meath: P O'Rourke; A Moyles, K Reilly, E Harrington, S Kenny, N McKeigue, C McGuinness, M Ward (0-1), N Crawford, S McAnarney (0-2), S Bray (0-1), B Meade, C Ward (0-4, 2f), C King (0-1), B Farrell (0-2).

Subs: C O’Connor for M Ward (42), B Sheridan for McAnarney (46), B Regan flor McKeigue (51), P Byrne for Bray (56), J Sheridan (0-1) for Meade (66)

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo)