O'Byrne Cup: McGuinness breaks Dubs' resistance

January 28, 2010

Jamie Queeney scores Meath's goal as Dublin keeper Craig O'Reilly attemps to save during the O'Byrne Cup quarter final at Pairc Tailteann.
Defender Cormac McGuinness was an unlikely hero for Meath in last night's O'Byrne Cup quarter-final replay against Dublin at Navan when he scored the winning point with the last kick of the game. Meath 1-10 Dublin 1-9 The centre back's 73rd minute winner finally settled the tie after extra-time had failed to separate the arch rivals at Parnell Park last Sunday. In another rip-roaring contest, the Royals looked on course when they led by five points at half-time, but inspired by Bernard Brogan who hit 1-3 in the second half, the visitors took the lead, only for Eamonn O'Brien's side to finish the stronger and secure a semi-final date with DCU next Sunday. Dublin made a whopping 10 changes from last Sunday's game, and they were second best in the first half when Meath played some excellent football to the delight of their supporters in the bumper 7,000 crowd. The Royals had opened up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead by the 20th minute and Dublin had to wait until the 23rd minute for Brogan to open their account. But with David Bray and Jamie Queeney in fine scoring form, the hosts took a 0-7 to 0-2 lead into the break. As tensions rose in the second half (Dublin boss Pat Gilroy was involved in an altercation with Meath defender James Macken), man of the match Brogan made amends for a missed penalty in the 36th minute when he fisted home in the 56th minute to give the Dubs a 1-6 to 0-8 lead. A 60th minute Queeney's goal restored the Royals' two-point advantage, only for Eamonn Fennell and Kevin Bonner to level. Extra-time looked to be on the cards again until Ollie Lewis won possession and set up McGuinness for his dramatic winner which sparked a mini pitch invasion at the end.

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