Dublin 0-14 Meath 1-5:Dublin comprehensively defeated Meath in what transpired to be a drab All-Ireland minor football final at Croke Park on a score-line of 0-14 to 1-5 . It is Dublin's first minor football All-Ireland victory since 1984.
The young Dubs defeated Meath in the Leinster championship by 12 points in July and Meath approached this afternoon’s game with a view to curbing their opponent's attacking influence. The winning margin for Dessie Farrell’s side was six points this afternoon but aside from a purple patch midway through the second half, Meath never looked capable of destabilising last year’s defeated All-Ireland finalists.
Dual player Cormac Costello won the man-of-the-match award, scoring four points in the first half. It gave Dublin a 0-7 to 0-2 half-time lead. Fiachra Ward got Meath off the mark early on but Dublin hit back with three points in a row, the pick of which was a fine score from Eric Lowndes. David Byrne’s point was Meath’s only response during the first half.
Dublin dominated possession early on in the second half but a series of wides meant that Meath were never out of touch. Substitutes Patrick Kennelly and Harry Rooney made an impact for the Royals and when Fiachra Ward scored a penalty on 43 minutes, only one point separated the sides.
Dublin rallied and scores from Costello and Niall Scully increased Dublin’s lead and when Shane Carthy converted two more frees, Dublin were assured of victory. James McEntee tagged a late consolation point on for Meath but it mattered little as Dublin secured the Tom Markham Cup for the first time since 1984.