Dubs And Royals Draw - The Saga Continues

BOI Leinster SFC
Dublin 1-11
Meath 0-14

By Denis O'Brien

Might we have another installment of the famous 1991 saga that took three replays to eventually separate old rivals Dublin and Meath. Well, if last Sunday's Leinster Championship clash between the pair at a packed Croker is anything to go by, we could be revisiting that storied 90's series once again.

The much-hyped match, had been billed as a titanic struggle and it didn't disappoint as Dublin and Meath produced the game of the championship so far as the result was in doubt right into injury time.

Dublin, as they have so often done before, started brilliantly slotting over five unanswered points with Meath yet to score and looking powerless to overturn Dub momentum. Dublin were looking lively in attack and Meath could have been in worse trouble but for their keeper, Brendan Murphy who pulled off two reflex saves after his defense failed to properly deal with two high balls into the goalmouth.

Joe Sheridan finally got Meath going with a point 15 minutes from half time before a major talking point arrived. Graham Geraghty had a goal disallowed after ref Jimmy McKee from Armagh said that he had pushed full-back Ross McConnell before he fielded, turned and blasted high into the net for a wonderful strike. The Meath crowd became incensed at the ruling and many thought the push more semi-jostle than a blatant push in the back. This scribe would agree with the former point of view and the goal should have been allowed.

Meath began to come more into the game and four points without reply brought them to within a point of Dublin just before the break. That was when talking point number two arrived courtesy of a Dublin goal from the fist of Alan Brogan but it looked like that he was in the square before the ball arrived but this time the goal stood. Man of the Match, Dublin's full-forward, Conal Keaney had been playing tremendous stuff in that first half and he got in for late point to see the Dubs with a goal lead at half time.

Keaney on the restart continued his good form when lofting over two beauties to now stretch the lead to five points with Meath in trouble once more. Mossy Whelan tagged on a further Dublin point before Meath sub Cian Ward, steadied the ship when reducing arrears putting over his first of four excellent second period frees.

Then we had the third talking point of the day when Geraghty this time looked for a penalty when going down in the square but the ref this time got the decision right as the blonde-haired-one going through the Dub rearguard met with keeper Stephen Cluxton and then lost possesion of his own accord before the ball was cleared to saftey.

However, Meath were beginning to find rhythm once more with points from Joe Sheridan, the excellent Stephen Bray and a pair of Ward frees to level the sides with 10 left to play. In between, Meath keeper, Brendan Murphy once more saved brilliantly this time from Mossy Quinn.

Nerves were on edge as the brilliant Keaney slipped over his fifth point of the day to edge Dublin ahead but Meath replied with another pointed free from ace sub Ward.

But the Dubs weren't' done yet and Colin Moran pointed to give them the lead again on full time but Meath are not called the Royal County for naught and Ward majestically put over the leveling point from a sideline kick to force the draw and end episode of this titanic battle.

Episode two takes place at Croker next Sunday week, June 17 and there's no reason not to expect another battle royale.

Teams & Scorers:
Meath: B Murphy; E Harrington, D Fay, N McKeigue, S Kenny, A Moyles, C King (0-1), M Ward, N Crawford, P Curran (0-1), K Reilly, P Byrne, S Bray (0-3), J Sheridan (0-3), G Geraghty (0-1) Subs: C Ward (0-5) for P Curran (48 mins); J Donegan for D Connolly (52) ; S O'Rourke for J Sheridan (69).
Dublin: S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, P Griffin, P Casey, B Cullen, B Cahill, C Whelan, D Magee, C Moran (0-1), S Ryan (0-1), D Connolly, A Brogan (1-1), C Keaney (0-5), T Quinn (0-3). Subs: R Cosgrove for D Connolly (52 mins) Referee: Jimmy McKee (Armagh)