Meath defy Dubs in Leinster U17FC final

Sun, 23rd July 2017

MEATH 3-12 DUBLIN 1-13

Goals proved crucial as Meath were deservedly crowned the inaugural Leinster U17FC winners in Saturday's provincial decider in Drogheda.

In a well-contested, entertaining battle the Royal County struck for three goals at crucial times as they defied Dublin in front of a healthy crowd.

The opening half was an even affair but the Dubs looked to be building momentum when a stunning Ciarán Archer free from near the sideline on the stand side from the 14-metre line was followed by a fine individual point from John Foley to put Dublin 0-5 to 0-3 clear in the 28th minute.

But then disaster struck for the Dubs when Conal Courtney's point effort going wide was rescued by the towering Cian McBride and he fed the in-rushing Matthew Costello to fire to the net.

Dublin responded with a point from impressive sub Seán Lowry but it was Meath who held a 1-4 to 0-6 advantage at the break after Costello slotted the final point of the opening half.

The Royals came flying out of the blocks on the restart and raised their second green flag in the first minute of the second half when Jordan Morris rattled the net.

Points from Michael Gavin and Shane Walsh followed and suddenly Meath were 2-6 to 0-6 clear.

However, by the 39th minute the Dubs were back level again.

In the 35th minute John Foley swept a pass from Archer to the net and points from Fionnan O'Sullivan, Lowry and Darragh Warnock made it 1-9 to 2-6.

But Meath made the vital break for the winner's enclosure when then hitting 1-3 without reply to leave Dublin with too much to do in the final ten minutes.

Wing-forward McBride was again central to Meath's third goal when he drifted in on the edge of the Dublin square and used his height to telling effect before setting up Costello for his second goal.

A quick flurry of three points put Meath two goals clear, 3-9 to 1-9, and despite Dublin battling to the end they could not get the goals they really required.

SCORERS - Meath: M Costello 2-3, J Morris 1-3, S Walsh 0-3, L Byrne, J O'Connor, M Gavin 0-1 each. Dublin: C Archer 0-7 (0-2f), J Foley 1-1, S Lowry 0-2, F O'Sullivan, S Noone, D Warnock 0-1 each.

MEATH: L Browne; S Bannon, S Ryan, M Gavin; O Smullan, L Byrne, C Courtney; C Doherty, F Watters; C McBride, S Walsh, P Matthews; A Lynch, J Morris, M Costello. Subs used: J O'Connor, M Murphy, C Harford, C Munnelly, D Keating.

DUBLIN: L Woodcock; E Lyons, S Jones, D O'Connell; C Melligan, C Kinsella, K McKeon; N Comerford, F O'Sullivan; D Warnock, J Leonard, A Quinn; J Foley, A Byrne, C Archer. Subs used: S Noone, A McCaul, P Purcell, S Lowry, S Tuke.

REF: S Murphy (Louth).