Dublin 0-14
Meath 1-5

Dublin justified their favouritism by easily accounting for Meath in a disappointing All-Ireland MFC final at Croke Park this afternoon.

Dessie Farrell's 1/8 favourites weathered a third quarter fightback by the Royals to repeat their Leinster final victory over their neighbours in game which never really sparked to life. Cormac Costello, who scored 3-4 in the provincial decider, was once again to the fore with a haul of 0-5 as the young Dubs landed the Tom Markham Cup for the first time since 1984 and 11th time in all. The victory also atoned for their shock defeat to Tipperary in last year's final.

After conceding 3-17 in the Leinster final, Meath set themselves up very defensively on this occasion and got huge numbers behind the ball every time Dublin attacked. While this tactic worked to a certain extent with Dublin not creating a goal chance of note, their highly-rated forwards were still able to make enough room for themselves to post a winning tally, despite kicking 10 wides.

At the other end, Meath lacked a cutting edge and struggled to find a way past a Dublin rearguard which was brilliantly marshalled by full back and captain David Byrne.

Having initially struggled to break through Meath's defensive wall, Dublin went on to lead by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break. They extended their lead on the restart before the Royals reeled off a quick 1-2 - their goal coming from a Fiachra Ward penalty - to leave just a point in it.

But just as they had done against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, the boys from the capital responded brilliantly by outscoring their opponents by 0-6 to 0-2 in the final quarter to win in some style.

Meath could have had a goal after just 45 seconds when Fiachra Ward was denied by a left-footed save from an alert Lorcan Molloy. The Meath full forward didn't have to wait long for his opening score from a 30-metre free a minute later. But Dublin levelled immediately through left half forward Niall Walsh.

Cormac Costello edged the Metropolitans into a lead they wouldn't relinquish from a routine free off the ground after Niall Scully was fouled in the fifth minute. Wing back Eric Lowndes doubled Dublin's lead with a fine point after Shane Carthy had intercepted Stephen Coogan's loose hand-pass out of defence.

Cillian O'Sullivan, who was Meath's most potent attacker in the first half, replied with a brilliant left-footed point on the run after missing an easier chance moments earlier. That score came in the 12th minute, but the Royals weren't to trouble the scoreboard operators again in the opening half as Dessie Farrell's men took control.

A needless free conceded by Brian Power on Cormac Costello presented the Dublin full forward with an easy point from the 20-metre line which made it 0-4 to 0-2 after a quarter of an hour's play. Shane Carthy extended the Dublin lead two minutes later after Ruairi O Coileain had blocked his initial goal attempt.

Robbie Gaughan registered the favourites' first wide in the 19th minute before Meath manager Andy McEntee introduced Patrick Kennelly - who scored the winning goal against Mayo in the semi-final - for Barry Dardis four minutes later in an attempt to inject some sparkle into his attack.

But Dublin continued to look the more threatening and raised their sixth white flag in the 29th minute when Costello fired over from the 45-metre line following a patient build-up. A foul on Conor McHugh yielded another point for the Dublin dangerman on the stroke of half-time.

Dessie Farrell's charges extended their lead to six points, 0-8 to 0-2, when Niall Scully took a return pass from Costello to shoot an excellent score four minutes after the restart. Meath then suddenly came to life when impressive substitute Harry Rooney won a free which Fiachra Ward converted for their first score in 26 minutes. Another substitute, Patrick Kennelly, burst through the middle to post the Royals' fourth point before Andy McEntee's underdogs were back to within one point when Ward scored the only goal from a 42nd minute penalty.

Referee Barry Cassidy had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick after Niall Walsh had caught Kennelly's foot as he was about to pull the trigger.

Dublin initially appeared rattled - Conor McHugh fisted a bad wide - before Shane Carthy's sweetly-struck 44-metre free enabled them to regain their composure. Niall Walsh followed up with his second point before Scully landed a wonderful score from under the Hogan Stand after the ever-dangerous Costello had drawn the Meath defence to them.

Carthy dropped another long-distance free just over Robert Burlington's crossbar before substitute David Campbell scored with his first touch to stretch out Dublin's lead to 0-13 to 0-4 with six minutes remaining.

Meath desperately tried to score a goal in the closing stages and full back Brian Power came close when his mis-hit shot was saved on the line by Stephen Cunningham. A foul on Campbell by Ruairi O Coileain resulted in Costello's fifth point before James McEntee kicked a consolation point for the losers in the second minute of stoppage-time.

Dublin: Lorcan Molloy; Emile Mullen, David Byrne, Ross McGowan; Eric Lowndes (0-1), Conor Mulally, Maitias Mac Donncha; Stephen Cunningham, Shane Carthy (0-3); Robbie Gaughan, Niall Scully (0-2), Niall Walsh (0-2); Conor McHugh, Cormac Costello (0-5), Gavin Burke. Sub: Shane Cunningham for Gaughan, Donal Gormley for Burke, David Campbell (0-1) for Walsh, Michael Deegan for Scully.

Meath: Robert Burlingham, Ruairí O Coileáin, Brian Power, Shane Gallagher, Declan Smyth, Pádraic Harnan, Seamus Lavin, Shane McEntee, Adam Flanagan, Cillian O'Sullivan (0-1), Jason Daly, James McEntee (0-1), Barry Dardis, Fiachra Ward (1-2), Stephan Coogan. Subs: Patrick Kennelly (0-1) for Dardis, Harry Rooney for Coogan, Conor Carton for Smyth, Caoimhin O Griofa for Ward, Conor O'Brien for Daly.

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry). Tweet

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