Sport

Meath get Fennelly's reign off to dire start

After the previous week's mauling away to Clare, Meath bounced back to overcome Dublin in their first ever home fixture in premier…

Mon Feb 12 2001 - 00:00

After the previous week's mauling away to Clare, Meath bounced back to overcome Dublin in their first ever home fixture in premier grade league hurling at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, yesterday.

It was an unhappy start to Kevin Fennelly's reign as Dublin coach and things could get worse for the new manager as his side have to play hosts to league champions Galway next weekend.

This was the Royal County outfit's first victory over the capital's hurlers since winning a Walsh Cup encounter by 3-10 to 1-15 seven years ago and this latest success was thoroughly merited.

In the end it was a 56th minute goal from James Canty which separated the sides, with Fergus McMahon's haul of nine points equally significant for the winners.

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Seven of McMahon's scores came from frees and that tally was matched by Dublin's Tomas McGrane. McMahon had opened the scoring from play and then pointed four frees, with midfielder Nicky Horan pitching in with a brace also from placed balls. Midfielder Liam Ryan strode through to account for Dublin's first score from play in injury time, leaving them trailing by 0-5 to 0-8 at the break.

Fennelly altered his attacking line up for the second period and Emmet Carroll slotted over two excellent points during the third quarter.

Meath were hanging on to their slender lead with pointed frees from McMahon but Canty's goal relieved the pressure while also deflating the losers. Canty blasted to the net from close range after forcing his way through following a long ball from McMahon.

MEATH: M Gannon; A O'Neill, D Murray, M Mullen; C Keena, T Reilly, D Reilly; N Horan (0-3, 2 frees), J Canty (1-0); D Donnelly, F McMahon (0- 9, 7 frees), D Dorran; G Cole, R Dorran, N McKeigue. Sub: D Troy for Donnelly.

DUBLIN: B McLoughlin; S Duignan, S Power, S Donnelly; D Wyse, D Spain, C McMahon; S Perkins, L Ryan (0-1); T McGrane (0-7, all frees), S Ryan, D Henry, D Donnelly (0-1), K Donohue, K Flynn. Subs: E Carroll (0-2) for Donoghue, G Ennis for Henry, A de Paor for Spain, F Armstrong for Flynn.

Referee: S McMahon (Clare).