Dublin 0-16 Meath 0-12:Despite Meath's best efforts Dublin did enough to see off their provincial rivals Meath in an absorbing SFC Leinster quarter-final replay at a packed Croke Park this afternoon.
As is the case most times these two sides meet the intensity levels were palpable as the 82,206 attendance at headquarters witnessed to a truly memorable performance. In the end Paul Caffrey's Dublin weathered the second half storm when The Royals came back at the Dubs who had failed to score for a 15 minute period.
The star of the show for the Dubs was undoubtedly Mark Vaughan, who came back into the side and scored a massive eight points. With confidence high he picked of scores from all over the park.
In the closing stages Meath had got back within one point of Dublin's lead 0-13 to 0-12 through Brian Farrell's third point of the match. However, Dublin refused to lie down, and sensing victory, they pressed on.
The lively Conal Keaney got on the scoresheet at just the right
time for his two points in quick succession opened up a three point
0-15 to 0-12 lead with the game heading into injury time. With
Meath running out of steam Alan Brogan put the icing on the cake as
he fired into the Hill for his first score and the final score of
the game, Dublin 0-16 Meath 0-12.
At the break some were suggested the opening 35
minutes was the best football of the championship to date
and with such a high intensity it was a real spectacle for
onlookers and a game, on the whole, which was played in good
spirit.
In an absorbing first half both sides traded points before the Dubs stepped up their work rate to contain Meath, who themselves were scoreless for a 15 minute period, to take a 0-7 to 0-9 lead into the break.
Stephen Bray's accuracy stood out as one of the highlights for Meath as the forward converted three from three. However, it was Dublin who had squandered a number of first half chances which meant their lead at the break should have been more.
Dublin keeper Stephen Cluxon Dublin has been criticised in the past but he was worth a number of points to the Dubs with his shot-stopping skills. Then Vaughan came into his own as his accuracy kept the heat of Brogan and the rest of the Dublin forward line.
Ray Cosgrove came on for Dublin in the second half and gave fresh impetus to the attack. That said, Brogan had several chances but had still failed to register a single score until he scored the final point of the game
Jason Sherlock also came on in the second half to mark his 50th Championship appearance for Dublin since his debut season as a 19-year-old when the Dubs last lifted Sam back in 1995.
Still, it was Vaughan who helped Caffrey's men open up a four point lead with two quick scores, one from a free, 10 minutes after the restart.
Then Graham Geraghty spurned a golden opportunity for Meath when he collected a cross from the right and was clear on goal. However, his effort rattled off the left upright and back into open play. It was picked up and Meath got a consolation point (0-11 to 0-8) but it should have been three.
Then Dublin's golden boy Vaughan immediately scored his seventh of the game from just 12 attempts to open up a four point lead again (0-12 to 0-8).
Towards the end Meath appeared to get their second wind but it was Dublin who finished strongest as they had no intention of letting their advantage slip. On reflection, they edged it and deserved the win.
Today's Results
SFC Connacht SF
Sligo 0-13 Roscommon 2-05
SFC Ulster SF
Tyrone 2-15 Donegal 1-07
SFC Leinster QF
Louth 2-8 Wexford 0-16
Dublin 0-16 Meath 0-12 (replay)
SHC Munster SF
Cork 3-18 Waterford 5-15