Dublin manager Dessie Farrell will be happy that his players got a game under their belt in tonight’s league victory over Meath
Dublin 1-20
Meath 0-19
It may not have gone as most would have expected but Dublin secured their third football League win of 2020 with an relatively entertaining win over Meath in Parnell Park tonight. Meath certainly aren’t wallowing in self pity at the bottom of the Division 1 table.
A goal within 5 minutes of play saw Dean Rock pass the legend Jimmy Keaveney as Dublin’s all time top scorer as Dublin had an entertaining encounter with their old rivals. And ultimately, Dean’s performance awarded him the player of the game.
A flying start from Dublin, with the danger of the game being out of reach from Meath too early. After Shane Walsh opened the scoring for his side, Dublin settled and within 5 minutes the home side were four clear. Dean Rock scored the easiest of goals after Meath keeper Mark Brennan gifted the ball to Paddy Small who slid it into Rock’s path to slot it home.
That followed with a Ciaran Kilkenny score and another Rock point. Walsh and Cillian O’Sullivan pulled two back for Meath but Rock converted a simple free before the plauers broke for water. A beautiful score from midfielder Brian Fenton restarted the action, quickly followed by a converted mark from Kilkenny and Paddy Small’s first score of the game.
Bryan Menton made it five for Meath before Con O’Callaghan showed his class with a sweet score. Eoin Harkin and Small traded scores before Meath hit a small purple patch. Thomas O’Reilly hit four frees on the bounce to pull Meath back into the game and leaving Rock’s goal between the sides at the break.
Dublin prevail but Meath don’t relent
Brian Feton kicked his second score immediately from the restart. But Meath were determined to make a game of it tonight. Two converted frees from Cillian O’Sullivan and O’Reilly, and a Walsh score from play closed the gap to within a score. And they upped the intensity to keep Dublin at bay for the majority of the third quarter.
Another Rock free on 37 minutes was cancelled out minutes later by O’Reilly. But two more Rock frees pushed teh advantage back to a goal. O’Sullivan converted his own free after being fouled. But again it was only temporary as Dean Rock added another, before COn O’Callaghan put a huge score over to push the lead to four with ten on the clock.
Dublin went into a familiar stance for the closing stages of the game, probing a packed Meath defence without squandering possession too much, with Meath running out of option. Brian Conlon sent a huge score over for his side in the 66th to again put a goal between them. And it sparked a patch of scoring from both sides to finish the game on a high.
Rock finished tonight with a deserving 1-08, with Ciaran Kilkenny and Con O’Callaghan also adding to their tallies in teh closing minutes. Jordan Morris got his second score with James Conlon kicking Meath’s final score to end the game with the points going to the Dubs
Dublin Scorers:
Dean Rock 1-08 (5f)
Con O’Callaghan 0-04
Ciaran Kilkenny 0-04 (1 mark)
Paddy Small 0-02
Brian Fenton 0-02
Meath Scorers:
Thomas O’Reilly 0-06 (6f)
Shane Walsh 0-04
Cillian O’Sullivan 0-03 (2f)
Jordan Morris 0-02
Bryan Menton 0-01
Eoin Harkin 0-01
Brian Conlon 0-01
James Conlon 0-01
Dublin:
1. Stephen Cluxton
2. Cian Murphy
3. David Byrne
4. Michael Fitzsimons
5. John Small
6. Jonny Cooper
7. Robert McDaid
8. Brian Fenton
9. Emmet Ó Conghaile
10. Niall Scully
11. Ciaran Kilkenny
12. Eric Lowndes
13. Paddy Small
14. Con O’Callaghan
15. Dean Rock
Dublin Substitutes:
25. Eoin Murchan for Jonny Cooper (45)
20. Brian Howard for Emmet Ó Conghaile (47)
26. Cian O’Sullivan for John Small (53)
18. Aaron Byrne for Paddy Small (63)
17. Sean Bugler for Eric Lowndes (70)
Meath:
16. Mark Brennan
2. Eoin Harkin
24. Cathal Hickey
4. David Toner
21. Gavin McCoy
6. Shane MCEntee
7. Donal Keogan
8. Bryan Menton
9. Ronan Jomes
10. Ethan Devine
11. Cillian O’Sullivan
12. Jason Scully
13. Thomas O’Reilly
20. James McEntee
15. Shane Walsh
Meath Substitutions:
22. Jordan Morris for Ethan Devine (29)
5. Brian Conlon for Gavin McCoy (39)
23. Darragh Campion for Jason Scully (54)
17. James Conlon for Shane Walsh (59)
14. Donal Lenihan for Thomas O’Reilly (65)
