Sport

Homan makes return as Dublin pull away

LEINSTER JFC FINAL: Dublin 1-13 Meath 1-9 : DUBLIN OVERCAME the loss of Brian Sexton, who was sent off after 30 minutes, to …

Mon Jun 30 2008 - 01:00

LEINSTER JFC FINAL: Dublin 1-13 Meath 1-9: DUBLIN OVERCAME the loss of Brian Sexton, who was sent off after 30 minutes, to defeat Meath in the Leinster junior football final at Croke Park yesterday.

Manager Mick Deegan was, however, able to call on former Dublin senior midfielder Darren Homan, who came on in the final quarter as Dublin pulled away.

Homan had his intercounty career cut short in 2005 when he injured his back in a training-ground accident but, having been told at the time he wouldn't play football again, pulled on a Dublin jersey once more yesterday.

Dublin twice opened up two-point leads with scores from Warren Finnegan and Karl Connolly approaching the half hour. Meath's Jamie Queeney then put a bare point between the sides.

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Although points from TJ Garry and Glen McCullagh put Meath in front for the first time, a free in injury-time from Finnegan had the sides level, 0-5 each, as they went in at the break.

Two points from Finnegan with Garry responding at the other end were followed by the sending-off of the Meath captain, Colm Ó Méalóid, on 40 minutes.

Finnegan reopened a two-point lead from a free but Dublin were then rocked by a Meath goal when Garry fired home.

The teams then traded points before Dublin were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute, which Finnegan converted, and from there Dublin closed out the game with Jonathan Cooper, O'Gara and Finnegan pointing.

DUBLIN: C Clarke; C Prenderville (0-1), M Fitzsimons, D Daly; N Brogan, A Dennis, M White; C Daly, D Bastick; R Joyce, K Connolly (0-2), B Sexton; W Finnegan (1-7, 0-4 frees, 1-0 penalty), E O'Gara (0-1), A Darcy (0-1). Subs: D Homan for Darcy (44 mins), J Cooper (0-1)for Brogan (46 mins), N Tormey for Connolly (56 mins).

MEATH: N Burke; B O'Reilly, T Dillon, M Burke; M Doran (0-1), C Ó Méalóid, J Bruton; G Loughran, R O'Connor; G McCullagh (0-1), I Dowd, S McAnarney; TJ Garry (1-4, 0-2 frees), J Queeney (0-1), D Morgan (0-1). Subs: N Farrell (0-1)for Bruton (13 mins), JB O'Reilly for O'Connor (half-time), J Donoghue for Dillon (49 mins), J Shaw for Loughran (54 mins).

Referee: C Costello(Offaly).