U21: Dubs hold off Royal comeback
March 07, 2009
Dublin's Luke Sweetman rounds Meath's Gerry Farrelly during the sides' Cadbury Leinster U21FC quarter-final at Parnell Park
Dublin 0-12
Meath 2-5
Dublin deservedly booked a place in the semi-finals of the Cadbury Leinster U21FC as late points saw off Meath.
With Paddy O'Connor in excellent scoring form from placed balls the home side led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of a hard fought first half at Parnell Park. Dublin looked the better side but some dogged defending from the Royals and points from Brian Sheridan kept Colm O'Rourke's men in touch.
On the restart Meath made what seemed a crucial break as first Sheridan pointed a free and then Alan Nestor goaled from the penalty spot to put his side two points clear, 1-4 to 0-5, with twenty minutes remaining.
However, Dublin then found their rhythm and five successive points had them three points clear, as O'Connor, Dean Rock and Paddy Andrews all hit scores.
Meath seemed out of ideas but a long ball found the accurate Sheridan who fired home an equalising goal, 2-4 to 0-10, with five minutes remaining.
But Dublin deservedly held firm and two quick points from Luke Sweetman and Dean Kelly saw them break clear and all Meath could manage was a consolation point in injury time as Dublin advanced to a semi-final meeting with Westmeath.
Dublin - D McDonnell; C Moore, S Byrne, H Gill; J Cooper, P Andrews 0-2, C Guckian; C Murphy, J Sheanon; D Quinn, L Sweetman 0-2, D Kelly 0-2; G McIntyre, D Rock 0-2, P O'Connor 0-3. Subs: B O'Rorke for McIntyre, T Furman 0-1 for O'Connor, N Brogan for Quinn, C Deasy for Byrne, N Devereux for Kelly.
Meath - P O'Rourke; K Lynch, G Farrelly, S Carr; D Donegan, C Finn, S Sheppard; C Gillespie, E Reilly; J Broderick, S O'Rourke 0-1, A Nestor 1-0; P Larkin 0-1, D Morgan, B Sheridan 1-3. Subs: M Byrne for Finn, G Reilly for Broderick, C Young for Morgan, A Collins for E Reilly.
Ref - E Craul (Wicklow).
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