Meath manager Robbie Brennan hailed his players after “a brilliant performance” which saw them ending Dublin’s dominance of the Leinster senior hurling championship in Portlaoise yesterday.

After building up a lead of a dozen points at half-time off the back of a superb first-half display at O’Moore Park, the Royals were made hang on in the closing quarter to earn the famous 0-23 to 1-16 victory and move into next month's Leinster final against Louth.

Speaking to RTE Sport afterwards, Brennan lauded his group by saying: "It was a brilliant win, a brilliant performance by the lads. We spoke about some kind of defiance and a bit of belief in ourselves and making sure we delivered that because we haven't on one or two other occasions and the boys did that.

"We were hanging on at the end, I'm not saying it was all roses, but I was just delighted when the hooter went to get it done."

On having built up a commanding 0-17 to 0-5 advantage at the end of the first-half after having the wind at their backs, Brennan added: "We said 'we're here to win so why not go for it?'. We did and it just about worked out that way. We were probably hoping for maybe a 14- or 15-point advantage because it was a real strong wind, a tricky wind as well, so we were happy enough coming in with that.

"But we knew we'd have to defend against it because Dublin have so many threats from all different areas, so I couldn't be prouder of the lads and I’m just delighted for them.I think, to a man and even the subs coming in, they all made a great contribution."

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