Having slipped to a minimum margin defeat at Derry in their last league outing, Dublin roared back to crush hosts Meath at Navan on Saturday afternoon

Dublin ………….. 2-19
Meath …………… 1-11

It was Meath’s third defeat in six outings and their second on the trot at home. Having won their opening two games.

On a sunny, breezy afternoon the hot favourites were always in control, taking advantage of the awkward elements to lead by nine points at the break.

Thereafter, the event flatlined though Meath managed nine second half points to Dublin’s 1-8.  Half-time sub Aaron Lynch posted two of those points, the first of which was one of the scores of the game.

Cormac Costello, Killian O’Gara, Brian Fenton and Con O’Callaghan led the scoring charge for Dessie Farrell’s superior side.

The elements proved of little use to Meath in the second half. By the 69th minute the gap was down to nine points (the same as half time).

However, in the fourth minute of added time top scorer Cormac Costello brought his tally to 1-4 with Dublin’s second goal of the game. 

Dublin had three changes from the selected team with Eoin Murchan, the goal scorer in the 2019 All-Ireland SFC final win, one of the trio of replacements to their starting line-up. Dean Rock was one of the absentees.

A capacity crowd of 11,000 witnessed the first league clash between the teams at this venue since December 1988 when Dublin defeated the then All-Ireland SFC champions by 11 points.

Dublin have almost guaranteed themselves an immediate return to Division 1.  Table toppers Derry host Clare on Sunday when a win for the Ulster champions would secure Meath’s Division 2 status.

Having whatever advantage the strong diagonal wind offered, controlled matters from the off to pick off a string of well taken points.

Cormac Costello and Brian Fenton were to the fore in the scoring stakes, sharing six points between them in the first 35 minutes.

Dublin moved five points clear twice in the opening 20 minutes before Meath where thrown a fortuitous lifeline. Diarmuid Moriarity created the opening for Mathew Costello to chip Dublin ‘keeper David O’Hanlon and leave the home side just two points off the pace, 1-2 to 0-7.

Meath were unable to build on that boost as Dubllin doubled their tally in the run in to half-time to leave the visitors 1-11 to 1-2 ahead at the break. Killian O’Gara’s 34th minute goal was a measure of consolation for the goal chances Dublin passed up earlier in the half.

Late on Meath lost team captain Donal Keogan with what seemed to be a hamstring injury which could rule him out of the remaining league game.

Meath are away to Kildare in their final league fixture while Dublin take on visitors Louth.

Scorers: Dublin - Cormac Costello 1-4 (0-1 45, 0-1 f); Killian O'Gara 1-3; Brian Fenton 0-4 (1f); Con O'Callaghan 0-4;Lee Gannon 0-2; Ciaran Kilkenny 0-1; Con O'Callaghan 0-1;

Meath - Mathew Costello 1-2 (0-1 f); Diarmuid Moriarity 0-2 (f); Aaron Lynch 0-2; Cathal Hickey 0-2; Jack Flynn 0-2 (1 45); Donal Lenihan 0-1..

Dublin - David O'Hanlon; Daire Newcombe, David Byrne, Michael Fitzsimons; James McCarthy, John Small, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, Tom Lahiff; Ciaran Kilkenny, Con O'Callaghan, Eoin Murchan; Cormac Costello, Killian O'Gara, Niall Scully. Subs - Sean Bugler for Scully (28); Brian Howard for Lahill (56), Colm Basquel for O'Gara (61), Ryan Basquel for O'Callaghhan  (67); Cian Murphy for Gannon (70)

Meath - Harry Hogan; Adam O'Neill, Michael Flood, Harry O'Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Cathal Hickey; Ronan Jones, Jack Flynn; Jack O'Connor, Jason Scully, Shane Crosby; Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Diarmuid Moriarty. Subs - Cillian O'Sullivan for O'Connor (ht), Aaron Lynch for Morris (ht), Aaron Lynch for Crosby (ht), Donal Lenihan for Scully (55), Eoin Harkin for Keogan (61),

Referee - Conor Lane (Cork)

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