Leinster MFC: Royals demolish Dubs by ten points

May 21, 2016

Dublin's Conor Hynes with James Cassidy Meath during the Leinster MFC quarter final at Pairc Tailteann

Meath 1-18
Dublin 2-5

Meath stormed to an impressive double-digit win over Dublin at Pairc Tailteann in this Electric Ireland Leinster MFC quarter-final on Saturday afternoon.

Barry Callaghan's charges capped a memorable afternoon with 19 scores from eight different players. In addition they restricted Dublin to seven scores with the visitors' second goal coming from full-forward Kevin Callaghan in stoppage time.

Meath 'keeper Adam McDermott and sub Eanna Mooney did well to prevent the Dubs bagging two further goals before the final whistle.

Playing an attractive brand of football, Meath had too much for a physically superior Dublin, who earlier in the year won the Leinster MFL.

Meath were never headed and responded well to the two occasions Dublin regained parity. Dublin trimmed the deficit to six points by the 35th minute when they lost Cormac Howley to a second yellow card.

Meath used the extra man well, outscoring Dublin by 1-5 to 0-1 over the next 22 minutes. Some of their point-taking was top drawer with James Conlon finishing with five from play.

Jason Scully took scoring honours thanks to his 57th minute goal that left it 1-18 to 1-5. Callaghan's second goal softened the scoreline somewhat from Dublin's perspective.
Meath lost Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch to a black card in added time by which time they had used their full compliment of subs.

Playing into the town goal, Meath took the game to Dublin fron the off posting three points inside four minutes with team captain Daragh Campion getting the sequence going.

James Conlon and Sean Reilly added further scores before Meath were rocked by the concession of a goal seven minutes in. Kevin Callaghan's text book ground shot left it 1-0 to 0-3.

Meath's responded positively with points from Conlon and Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch. The scores were tied for the second time, 17 minutes in, after points from Tom Keane and Cormac Howley with the latter blazing over from close range.

Meath closed out the half with seven scores on the spin. A brace of points from Skryne's Eoin Smyth were the pick of the sequance. They also included two pointed Jason Scully frees.

Meath went on to lead by 0-12 to 1-2 at the break with seven different players on the scoresheet (six from play). Meanwhile Dublin picked up four yellow cards during the opening half.

There will be an open draw for the semi-final pairings, but Meath cannot face Laois, who they beat in the opening round.

Meath - Adam McDermott; Robbie Clarke, Conor Harnan, Brian O'Reilly; James Cassidy (0-1), Eanna O'Kelly Lynch (0-1), Sean Reilly (0-1); Daragh Campion (C) (0-3), Ethan Devine (0-2); Niall Murphy, Cian O'Reilly, Eoin Smith (0-2); James Conlon (0-5), Frank O'Reilly, Jason Scully (1-3 fs). Subs - Eanna Mooney for F O'Reilly (47), Conor O'Byrne for Devine (53), Adam Murphy for C O'Reilly (57), Niall Durkan for Smith (57), Morgan Callaghan for Reilly (57), Conor Cullen for Clarke (60).

Dublin - Evan Comerford; Rob Shaw, Nathan Doran, CJ Smith; Conor Lennon, James Holland, Mal Tighe; Aran Kelly, Mark Donnelly; Cormac Howley (0-1), Sean Bugler (0-1), Dan O'Brien; Tom Keane (0-1), Kevin Callaghan (2-0), Conor Hynes (0-2fs). Subs - Eoghan Fitzpatrick for  Kelly (ht), Aaron Bradshaw for Lennon (ht), Nathan Nolan for Tighe (ht), Ross McGarry for Hynes (42), Glen McNamara for Shaw (46), Paddy Flaherty for Donnelly (59).

Referee - Seamus Mulhare (Laois)


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