DUBLIN certainly made a meal of dishing out an inevitable beating to lifeless Meath in their National Hurling League division two game at Parnell Park yesterday.
What was most unpalatable about the modest entertainment on show, was the regularity with which both teams - with the exception of Ruairi Boland and Jamesie Brennan - found the simple basics of hurling beyond them. An amalgam of poor striking, poor control and aimless passing left the crowd with a paucity of excitement.
Notwithstanding the fact that Meath were obviously short of a stride in fitness, a return of two points over one hour is inexcusable. Even the normally sharp Pat Potterton at right corner forward was not as conspicuous as usual. That said, he was the only Meath player to tax the relatively new electronic scoreboard.
This day was all about stopping the opposition from playing. Although, some insisted on playing to the crowd - that's where the ball often ended up.
Jamesie Brennan's assured touch from placed balls and around the field was the one thing Dublin could rely on. He seems to be thriving on the undoubted responsibility thrust on him, playing with a stature well beyond his small, stocky build.
Four first half frees from the Castlecomer man in the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 19th minutes kept Dublin ticking over, while his teammates were more intent on shooting wides.
Eamon Morrissey, McCann and Barry O'Sullivan weighed in with points to ensure Dublin held a 0-7 to 0-1 interval lead. Potterton's second free - yes, Meath failed to score from play - in the 34th minute might have signalled a second half wind assisted comeback of sorts. There was no such thing on the horizon.
Boland turned his marking intentions on Potterton and also managed to perform an admirable soccer style sweeping role, mopping up where others had messed up.
The rest of the game only came to life when the two Kilkenny imports' decided to take an interest in goings on. Morrissey (35th minute) and Brennan (41st minute) pointed, before Morrissey stitched up the Meath defence with the only goal of the game in the 54th minute.
