The Sean Cox fund was significantly boosted by this meeting of Meath and Dublin at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon. 

Meath ........... 0-16

Dublin ........... 1-11

An exciting finale raised Meath voices in the large crowd, but more importantly, Sean Cox, a man with strong Meath and Dublin connections gained much need financial and moral support from strong attendance following horrific injuries received last April.

The occasion was enhanced with good weather for the time of year, dry with some sunshine. 

Juvenile players from Dunboyne and Round Towers, Clondalkin (Sean's home club) contributed to the enjoyment of the crowd with mini-games. 

During the interval the crowd were entertained to a penalty shoot-out involving  sporting greats from both Meath and Dublin; Alan Brogan, Johnny Murtagh, Niall Quinn, Charlie Redmond and Graham Geraghty. 

Meath fielded more 'first choice' players than Dublin, who were making their first outing against inter-county opposition since their All-Ireland SFC win three months ago.

For most of the second-half, Dublin looked set to prevail and were two points clear, 1-11 to 0-12, with 61 minutes gone. Two points from sub Conor McHugh seemed to set them up to win. 

Andy McEntee's men raised their game and lifted the large home support with four unnanswered points in the final minutes.

Two Bryan McMahon points in quick succession leveled matters. Further scores from Niall Kane and top marksman Michael Newman settled matters.

It was Meath's second game inside 24 hours, with one (Graham Reilly) who started against Longford on Saturday evening. The St Colmcille's man landed three fine points including the one that moved them 0-9 to 0-5 clear 13 seconds after the restart.

Both sides made numerous second-half substitutions with Ballinabrackey's Danny Quinn capping his impressive cameo with a point. He replaced Bryan Menton who was forced off early following a clash of heads with team mate Ronan Ryan seven minutes into the second-half.

Ronan Ryan was also involved in this accidental clash and was replaced by Meath Footballer of the Year, Mickey Burke.

By the end Newman had six scores while Donal Keogan was a pivotal figure in defence. Eight players contributed to Meath's tally including wing-backs Niall Kane and James McEntee.

Dublin's 12 scores were spread among 10 players with sub Conor McHugh pointing twice in the final quarter. The visitors hit the front on 50 minutes when Robbie McDaid fisted to the net at the old swimming pool end. 

Dublin led by 1-9 to 0-11 points. Meath outscored the Dubs by 0-5 to 0-2 in the time remaining, The sides shared four points in the opening eight minutes. The home side pushed on and moved 0-8 to 0-4 clear when Newman scored from play in the 31st minute. 

The visitors pulled one back through Paddy Small (free) to leave it 0-8 to 0-5 at the break in Meath's favour. 

Meath - Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee (0-1), Donal Keogan; Niall Kane (0-1); Adam Flanagan; Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton (0-1), Graham Reilly (0-3), Ethan Devine (0-1); Bryan McMahon (0-2), Michael Newman (0-6, 4fs), Thomas O’Reilly. Subs - Mickey Burke for Ryan (42), Danny Quinn (0-1) for Menton (42), Sean Tobin for Reilly (48), Thomas McGovern for Devine (54), Shane Glynn for McGill (58), Marcas Brennan for Colgan (59)

Dublin - Andy Bunyan; Robbie McDaid (1-0), Sean McMahon, Eoin Murchan; Eric Lowndes (0-1), Brian Howard, Conor Mullally (0-1); Brian Fenton (0-1), Darren Gavin (0-1); Niall Scully, Ryan Basquel (0-1), Sean Bugler (0-1); Stephen Smith (0-2, 1f), Eoghan O'Gara, Paddy Small (0-1 f). Subs - CJ Smith for Murchan (ht), Cormac Cowley for O'Gara, Aaron Byrne for Scully, Conor McHugh (0-2) for Smith (45), Declan Monaghan for Lowndes (50), Shane Boland for Bugler (52), Oisin Lynch for McDaid (53), Jack Hazely for Fenton (59), Cian Murphy for Mullally (59), Ian Reilly for Bunyan (59).  

Referee - Noel Mooney (Cavan).

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