A trip to Pairc Tailteann is on the cards for the the Dublin Minor footballers as they face rivals Meath
Meath v Dublin
Saturday, October 17th. 2:00pm
Pairc Tailteann, Navan.
The fixtures this weekend are coming think and fast. And the Inter County season raises the curtain after a long seven month hiatus. And the Dublin Minor Footballers will square off against Leinster neighbours Meath on the road. Pairc Tailteann wil be the venue for this grudge match with a place in teh provincial quarter finals at stake.
The winners on Saturday will advance to face Westmeath in the last eight. And should they successfully traverse that head to head, they meet either Laois or Carlow in a Leinster Semi Final. But Saturday’s game is our first focus.
Now U17’s, this Dublin side are familiar foes of Meath. And a lot of the players would have faced each other in last year’s Gerry Reilly U16 tournament. Back on that day in Millbrook, it was the Royals who prevailed. A solitary point seperated the sides on a 2-11 to 2-10 scoreline.
Meath had the game in their grasp, thanks to two Alan Bowden goals, before Dublin mounted a late rally, and nearly stole a victory. A late Luke Breathnach goal gave Dublin a lifeline deep into additonal time, but teh clock ran out for the Dubs leaving Meath as the victors.
The Royals were 0-04 to 0-03 ahead when Bowden landed his side’s first goal and they ended the first session ahead by more than a brace of scores. But Dublin restarted well and within 10 minutes had drawn level.
Meath struck their second goal coming into the last quarter, but with 10 minutes of normal time remaining Seamus Smith hit the net for Dublin to put the minimum between the sides. As Dublin drew closer, Meath grew more determined and outscored Dublin from here to the finish.
Three minutes into additional time, Meath were clear by four scores before Breathnach claimed the last score of the evening with his goal. But any hope of a further comeback as the referee’s whistle blew spelling the end of the game.
Dublin supporters can watch a live stream of Saturday’s Minor Championship game via Meath GAA TV.
