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GAA Live

IT Sun, Jul 22
 

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  • 13:16
    It’s back to the future in many respects today. We’ve got two provincial finals on our hands, the first in Ulster and the second in Leinster. First up Down take on Donegal at St Tiarnach’s Park in Clones before Dublin entertain Meath at Headquarters. It’s like the 1990s all over again.
    In more recent years, we’ve gotten used to seeing Tyrone and Kerry feature in provincial finals but those two sides met each other in Killarney last night in the third round of the qualifiers. What’s more is that Kerry got the better of Tyrone last night – it’s another sure signs that the times they are a-changing but we’ll return to that match later.
    Donegal are favourites for Ulster and it’s easy to see why. They have crushed Cavan, destroyed Derry and toppled Tyrone en route to the final. Not only that but Jim McGuinness has taken what was a well organised team last year and turned them into a footballing machine which boasts an altruistic ethos which arguably no other team in Ireland can better. This year they’ve also shown that they have plenty of attacking capabilities. 
    In Leinster Dublin are favourites. They are the reigning All-Ireland champions and despite an underwhelming passage through to the final they face a highly unfancied Meath side. They should win.
    But before we write off Meath and Down let’s just go back in time. The year is 1991 and the Ulster and Leinster line-ups are the very same as they are today. Donegal, tipped to prevail are beaten by a Down team who would go on to win the All-Ireland.
    The Leinster final that year was a three-part saga which eventually saw Meath triumph before eventually losing to the greatest footballing county in Ireland (if you weren’t previously aware of my Down bias you are now).
    Will history repeat itself or can Dublin and Donegal forge a new future? Stay tuned with me, Ciaran Daly to find out.
     
    Today’s fixtures
    Ulster senior football championship final
    Down v Donegal – 2pm, Clones
    Leinster senior football championship final
    Dublin v Meath – 4pm, Croke Park
  • 13:17
    Yesterday’s results
    All-Ireland senior football championship qualifiers Round Three
    Tipperary 0-10 Antrim 0-8
    Kerry 1-16 Tyrone 1-6
    Kildare 0-19 Limerick 0-12 (AET)
    Leitrim 1-11 Laois 1-13
  • 13:20
    And so to yesterday’s games and there’s only one place we can start really. Kerry finally put their Tyrone hoodoo to bed last night in Killarney with a 10-point victory over the Red Hands. It clearly meant a lot to the Kingdom’s players. If you haven’t seen Paul Galvin’s post-match interview then you’re in for a treat. Check out the video.
  • 13:20
  • 13:21
    Apologies, that’s just a similarly emotional interview after a sporting event (albeit an entirely fictional one). Here’s Paul Galvin.
  • 13:22
  • 13:29
    Some gentle slagging of Paul Galvin there but he deservedly won the man-of-the-match award yesterday. Kerry were sensational and as you can tell from Paul’s interview they had a point to prove. You’d have to think Joe Brolly did most of the work for the pre-match Kerry team-talk. Check out his article in the Derry journal where he rubbished this Kerry team
    http://www.derryjournal.com/community/columnists/brolly-s-bites-more-a-green-than-golden-generation-of-the-kingdom-1-4077763
  • 13:32
    Of course there was a less sensationalist and more reasoned article written in the build-up to the game between Kerry and Tyrone yesterday. Can you guess which paper it featured in? Darragh Ó’Sé’s column in the Irish Times was very insightful. If you missed it midweek, check it out here.
    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0718/1224320305440.html
  • 13:34
    Kildare needed extra time yesterday to see off Limerick and they left it late to get the equalising point. What is going on with the Lilly Whites this year? Are they all style and no substance or is that a disservice to Limerick?
  • 13:36
    Tipperary were excellent yesterday and overcame Antrim. Ulster opposition awaits in the next round for Tipp as they take on the losers (Donegal) of the Ulster final.
    Laois came through a tough battle with Leitrim. The minnows looked like causing a shock but a Laois goal just before the break was the turning point in an intriguing match.
  • 13:39
    Ulster GAA Minor Football Championship Final Result: Tyrone 0-14 Monaghan 1-8
  • 13:40
    Donegal arrived at Clones in a bus with McGuinness written on the side of it. Nepotism.
  • 13:44
    Tipperary footballers are through to Round 4 of the All-Ireland qualifiers but were scheduled to play a round of club-matches this week. Thankfully sense prevailed and the games have been postponed. Is this a new kind of thinking in GAA circles, one based on logic?.....Be afraid, be very afraid.
  • 13:50
    These are the teams that were named during the week. Don’t expect Down to line up that way though.
    DOWN: B McVeigh, D McCartan, B McArdle, D O’Hagan; D Hughes, D Gordon, A Brannigan; K McKernan, A Rodgers; D O’Hare, M Poland, A Carr; B Coulter, C Laverty, E McCartan
    DONEGAL: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn; E McGee, K Lacey, A Thompson; R Bradley, R Kavanagh; D Walsh, L McLoone, M McHugh; P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden

  • 13:50
    Declan Walsh starts on Donegal team for Eamon McGee. Kalum King & Liam Doyle replace Danny Hughes & Eoin McCartan for Down
  • 13:51
    Why bother naming the teams at all in advance?
  • 13:55
    Down might line up like this. Positional changes are still possible.
    DOWN: B McVeigh; D McCartan, B McArdle, D O’Hagan; A Brannigan, K McKernan, L Doyle; K King, A Rodgers; D O’Hare, M Poland, A Carr; B Coulter, D Gordon,  C Laverty.
  • 13:55
    DONEGAL: P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn; D Walsh, K Lacey, A Thompson; R Bradley, R Kavanagh; D Walsh, L McLoone, M McHugh; P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden
  • 13:59
    As I’ve said for every Down game this year, may the best team win…so long as that team is wearing red and black!
  • 14:00
    Joe McQuillan is the ref
  • 14:00
    We’re off!
  • 14:01
  • 14:02
    I think I speak for everyone when I say no one wants to see the cynicism that was apparent in yesterday’s game in Killarney
  • 14:04
    Wide from Benny Coulter. Unusual for him.
  • 14:04
    Aidan Carr appears to be lining out in Down's defence.
  • 14:05
    Dan Gordon is marking Michael Murphy
  • 14:05
    Ryan Bradley, calm and collected, puts Donegal in front.
  • 14:05
  • 14:06
    McFadden wide. It was on his left. He’s usually so accurate from that kind of position.
  • 14:07
    Donegal already look to have a grip around midfield.
  • 14:08
    McLoone hits Donegal’s second wide. Donegal move en masse. It’s already impressive.
  • 14:09
    Neil McGee gets a yellow card. He’s marking Benny Coulter. That’s not good for McGee and it’s very good for Coulter.
  • 14:09
    Conor Laverty won possession on his own half-back line. There are only nine minutes gone. That can’t be a good sign for Down.
  • 14:11
    Liam Doyle fires wide for Down. Game yet to settle into a pattern.
  • 14:11
  • 14:11
    10 mins – McKernan hits Down’s fourth wide.
  • 14:12
    Donal O’Hare wins a free that Down should score from.
  • 14:13
    12 mins – Doyle converts. Down 0-1 Donegal 0-1
  • 14:13
  • 14:13
    Does anyone outside of Ulster care about this match? Or do the rest of the country consider this puke football?
  • 14:14
    Conor Laverty has been booked.
  • 14:14
    Paddy McBrearty point
  • 14:14
  • 14:15
    14 mins - Poland to O’Hare and he points. Down 0-2 Donegal 0-2
  • 14:16
    Brendan McArdle gets a yellow for Down. Unnecessary.
  • 14:16
  • 14:18
  • 14:18
    Off-the-ball shenanigans. Coulter and Mark McHugh involved.
  • 14:18
    Coulter gets a yellow card.
  • 14:20
    Four yellow cards already. It’s a case of win at any cost but it’s so cynical.
  • 14:21
  • 14:21
    Both sides willing to foul tactically and break up the flow of opposition attacks before they can reach fruition. Both teams also preventing the other from taking quick frees too. Am I turning into Pat Spillane or has this been puke football?
  • 14:23
    Thompson had a chance of a goal but he couldn’t even take a point. Donegal were patient there and opened Down up. Running directly at the Down defence could be Donegal’s best bet.
  • 14:24
    McGee penalised for a push on Coulter. Generous refereeing.
  • 14:24
    23 mins – Doyle converts. Down 0-3 Donegal 0-2
  • 14:25
    23 minutes played and there have been five scores. It’s certainly not Munster hurling.
  • 14:25
  • 14:26
    Kalum King will be booked for charging straight into Frank McGlynn’s chest. King looks to have injured himself though.
  • 14:27
    That’s former cage fighter Kalum King. Not a man to mess with.
  • 14:27
    It’s a pretty dour spectacle so far. So tactical.
  • 14:29
    Gordon fires another Down wide. Donegal’s tactic of allowing Down to shoot from distance is paying off.
  • 14:30
    29 mins - Aidan Carr wide for Down. That’s six in total for the Mourne men.
  • 14:30
    Ambrose Rodgers fouled. This should put Down two points up.
  • 14:31
    Donal O’Hare converts. Down 0-4 Donegal 0-2
  • 14:31
    Free-flowing football this ain’t!
  • 14:31
  • 14:31
    GOAL! Donegal. McLoone with the neat finish
  • 14:32
    Quick ball forward from midfield and finished with real poise by Leo McLoone.
  • 14:32
  • 14:32
    31 mins – Down 0-4 Donegal 1-2
  • 14:33
    Ambrose Rodgers with a point from close range.
  • 14:33
  • 14:33
    32 mins – Down 0-5 Donegal 1-2
  • 14:33
    Benny Coulter has been kept unusually quiet
  • 14:34
    Rory Kavanagh booked for a high tackle on Conor Laverty.
  • 14:34
    Six yellow cards now.
  • 14:34
  • 14:35
    Liam Doyle points for Down
  • 14:35
    34 mins – Down 0-6 Donegal 1-2. Carr with a poor free. Doyle gathered and pointed.
  • 14:36
  • 14:36
    35 mins – Declan Walsh points for Donegal. Again it came from a direct run at the Down defence. Donegal 1-3 Down 0-6
  • 14:36
  • 14:37
    36 mins - Walsh gets his second in as many minutes. Donegal in front. Donegal 1-4 Down 0-6
  • 14:38
    McKernan points a long-range score. We’re even again. Down 0-7 Donegal 1-4
  • 14:38
  • 14:39
    Walsh scores his third point in the last five minutes for Donegal. Good work from Murphy. Donegal 1-5 Down 0-7
  • 14:39
  • 14:39
    Half-time: Donegal 1-5 Down 0-7
  • 14:39
  • 14:40
    Thankfully the game picked up in the last five minutes. When Donegal run directly at the Down defence goals look likely. Surely they have to exploit that in the second half. Walsh with three points at the end of the half for Donegal.
  • 14:41
    Worth noting that Down were playing with a considerable wind in the first half. Is the answer blowin’ in the wind?
  • 14:45
    Thanks to the lads at the fantastic balls.ie – here’s Brian McGuigan’s sending off in gif form as compared to Brian Curtain’s challenge which looked worse but only merited a yellow card. Benny Coulter did something similar to McGuigan in the first half on Mark McHugh. Yellow seemed sensible, right?  Where’s the consistency? http://www.balls.ie/2012/07/22/the-brian-mcguigan-send-off-vs-the-patrick-curtain-yellow/
  • 14:48
    So Donegal have a marginal lead but if they walk through the middle they should get more goals. What can Down do to counter Donegal? Benny Coulter has to get more involved surely?
  • 14:49
    Former Down manager Peter McGrath insists that Down have the creativity to unlock the Donegal defence.
  • 14:51
    Eoin McCartan warming up at half-time for Down. They can also call upon 2010 All-Star Danny Hughes who wasn’t quite fit enough to take his place in the starting line-up.
  • 14:53
  • 14:54
  • 14:55
    Dublin minors are taking their Meath counterparts apart at Croker.
  • 14:56
    Mark McHugh performs such an important role for Donegal.
  • 14:56
    Benny Coulter has not come out for the second half for Down.
  • 14:56
    Eoin McCartan takes Benny’s place.
  • 14:57
    Martin McElhinney on for Donegal. Walsh off for Donegal. That’s a strange one considering how strongly Walsh finished the first half.
  • 14:57
    We’re back in Clones!
  • 14:58
    35 mins – Laverty point from an acute angle. Down 0-8 Donegal 1-5
  • 14:58
    Eoin McCartan involved immediately.
  • 14:59
    McLoone fouled by King. Donegal should go back in front here.
  • 14:59
  • 15:00
    38 mins – McFadden converts Donegal free (that’s their first of the day). Donegal 1-6 Down 0-8
  • 15:00
  • 15:02
    Donegal look like they will be using the early ball to Murphy in the second half.
  • 15:02
    40 mins - McElhinney to Murphy and over. Donegal 1-7 Down 0-8
  • 15:03
    And another from McHugh. Are Donegal beginning to ramp up the intensity?
  • 15:03
  • 15:03
    41 mins – Donegal 1-8 Down 0-8
  • 15:04
    Poland has been Down’s best player. Set up McArdle there. Poor finish.
  • 15:04
    Conor Maginn is on for Down. Aidan Carr makes way.
  • 15:05
    Maginn to Doyle and he puts it over from play. Down 0-9 Donegal 1-8
  • 15:05
    Donegal sub: Christy Toye on for Leo McLoone.
  • 15:06
    Christy Toye’s no slouch plus he sounds like a character from an old Irish play
  • 15:06
    Down have been far too wasteful in front of goal. McKernan hits Down’s eighth wide.
  • 15:07
    45 mins - Martin McElhinney had so much room to point for Donegal there. Donegal 1-9 Down 0-9
  • 15:08
  • 15:08
    I’m going to say it - I think Donegal will be out of sight within the next five minutes.
  • 15:09
    Yet another Down wide. This time Maginn is to blame.
  • 15:09
    47 mins – Donegal 1-9 Down 0-9
  • 15:10
    McBrearty has been spending too much time around the Down team. He fires wide.
  • 15:10
    48 mins – Good score from Eoin McCartan Down 0-10 Donegal 1-9
  • 15:11
    Danny Hughes is coming on for Donal O’Hare. Great sub to bring on.
  • 15:11
  • 15:12
    Mark McHugh with a fine point. He worked so hard for that. Constant running from McHugh. Down 0-10 Donegal 1-10
  • 15:12
  • 15:13
    GOAL! Frank McGlynn with a superb finish puts Donegal into a commanding lead.
  • 15:13
    51 mins – Down 0-10 Donegal 2-10
  • 15:13
  • 15:14
    The ball broke in midfield. McFadden picked it up and fed McGlynn who showed real composure to fire under Brendan McVeigh
  • 15:15
  • 15:15
    That’s corner back Frank McGlynn who got the Donegal goal. That says everything about Donegal’s style. Numbers mean nothing in terms of position.
  • 15:16
    McFadden adds another point from a free. Donegal 2-11 Down 0-10
  • 15:16
  • 15:16
    Coulter back on. McKernan off.
  • 15:17
    16 minutes left and Donegal lead by seven points.
  • 15:18
    56 mins - Hughes points for Down. They need a goal pretty quickly. Down 0-11 Donegal 2-11
  • 15:18
  • 15:19
    Ryan Bradley with an almighty field in midfield. He shrugged his man off and pointed superbly. Donegal 2-12 Down 0-11
  • 15:19
  • 15:19
    Donegal are now dominant at midfield.
  • 15:19
    57 mins – McFadden adds another. It looks like game over here. Donegal 2-13 Down 0-11
  • 15:20
  • 15:20
    Daniel McLaughlin replaces Ryan Bradley
  • 15:20
    I predict a Down red card.
  • 15:21
    I would argue that Mark McHugh is Donegal’s most important player. He is everywhere and does everything.
  • 15:23
    Down are getting desperate.
  • 15:23
  • 15:24
    62 mins - Colm McFadden with arguably the score of the game. Donegal 2-14 Down 0-11
  • 15:24
  • 15:26
    Down forced into going for goal and the Donegal defence is more than prepared for that kind of onslaught.
  • 15:27
    I always hate seeing fans leave with about 10 minutes to go. Down fans are streaming out of St Tiarnach’s Park.
  • 15:27
  • 15:27
    65 mins - Maginn and McLaughlin trade scores. Donegal 2-15 Down 0-12
  • 15:28
    65 mins – McElhinney gets his second point of the game. Donegal 2-16 Down 0-12
  • 15:29
    This will be the first time in their history that Donegal have retained an Ulster senior football title.
  • 15:29
    As a Down fan, I’m disappointed but the silver lining in the dark cloud is that I backed Donegal for the All-Ireland this year. Looks a decent bet.
  • 15:30
    Durcan denies Danny Hughes. Good shot. Great save.
  • 15:30
  • 15:31
    Provincial final losers tend to go out in the next round of the qualifiers. Will Tipp be relishing playing Down?
  • 15:32
    TV3 give Mark McHugh the man-of-the-match award. Hard to argue with that.
  • 15:32
  • 15:32
    70 mins – McFadden adds another. Down 0-13 Donegal 2-17
  • 15:32
    And another McFadden score. Let it end. Donegal 2-18 Down 0-13
  • 15:33
  • 15:34
  • 15:34
    A wide from Aidan Brannigan. That’s Down’s 11th wide. Sums up their day, particularly their second half.
  • 15:34
    Full-time: Donegal 2-18 Down 0-13
  • 15:35
    Jim McGuinness – GAA’s Mourinho without the arrogance.
  • 15:36
    Donegal have the system, the players, the manager and the fitness to test the very best.
  • 15:36
    Down will not exactly head to the qualifiers with lots of confidence. Tipperary might fancy shocking them next week.
  • 15:38
    So Donegal are the undisputed Kings of Ulster. Are Dublin Leinster’s equivalent?
  • 15:40
    1991 – Down beat Donegal to clinch the Ulster title. That’s not the case this year. Meath beat Dublin at the third attempt in 1991. This goal was the decisive moment for Meath then. Check out Kevin Foley’s goal. Now, that’s teamwork.
  • 15:40
  • 15:44
    Can Meath cause an upset? Banty thinks so. Here's Malachy Clerkin's preview http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0721/1224320528354.html
  • 15:45
  • 15:45
    This is the first Dublin v Meath Leinster final in 11 years.
  • 15:46
  • 15:51
    DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O’Carroll, P McMahon; J McCarthy, K Nolan, C O’Sullivan; E Fennell, D Bastick; P Flynn, A Brogan, B Cullen; B Brogan, M D Macauley, K McManamon;
    MEATH: D Gallagher; D Keogan, K Reilly, M Burke; D Tobin, S McAnarney, B Menton; C Gillespie, B Meade; A Forde, D Carroll, G Reilly; B Farrell, J Sheridan, S Bray;
  • 15:51
    Predictions please? It’s Dublin to win easily isn’t it?
  • 15:53
  • 15:56
    No Joe Brolly in the RTÉ studio. No doubt, he’s penning his apology to the Kerry team. Or if we know Joe like we think we know Joe, he’s probably writing an article taking credit for inspriring Kerry to victory.
  • 15:57
    Meath’s midfield was excellent against  Kildare. That’s probably why Dublin are starting with three recognised midfielders in Fennell, Bastick and Macauley
  • 15:58
    Meath’s full forward line is pretty scary too. Stephen Bray’s return is sure to be welcomed by  Royal fans. Mind you, the Dublin full-back line has been superb over the last 18 months.
  • 15:59
    Bernard Brogan can’t possibly play as badly as he did against Wexford.
  • 16:02
    Great atmosphere at Croke Park.
  • 16:02
    And we’re off!
  • 16:04
    Meath play the long direct ball towards Joe Sheridan early. Dublin were able to clear the danger.
  • 16:05
    Frenetic pace at the start of the Leinster final.
  • 16:05
    2 mins – Graham Reilly with a fine point. Meath 0-1 Dublin 0-0
  • 16:05
  • 16:06
  • 16:06
    3 mins - Michael Dara Macauley brought down on the 20 metre line. He looked effective as a full forward there. Brogan converts. Dublin 0-1 Meath 0-1
  • 16:08
    Meath have started with a lot of intensity.
  • 16:09
    6 mins – McManamon with a fine point. Quick break from Dublin.
  • 16:09
  • 16:09
    7 mins – Dublin 0-2 Meath 0-1
  • 16:10
  • 16:10
    8 mins – Brogan point from play. Dublin 0-3 Meath 0-1
  • 16:11
    Referee spotted a foul by Reilly on Bernard Brogan on the edge of the square.
  • 16:11
  • 16:11
    Dublin have a grip around midfield already.
  • 16:12
    Paul Flynn harshly adjudged to have fouled Graham Reilly.
  • 16:13
    Brian Farrell fires Meath’s second wide. They need to get some possession and a score or two just to compose themselves.
  • 16:15
    Alan Brogan puts Dublin 0-5 to 0-1 up. Not the start Meath needed.
  • 16:15
  • 16:15
    So hands up who preferred 1991?
  • 16:17
    If this song doesn’t feature in Banty’s half-time inspiration he’ll have questions to answer. Nothing sums up the spirit of 1991 better.
  • 16:18
  • 16:18
  • 16:18
    Dublin are rampant! 15 minutes played and they lead by five. Dublin 0-6 Meath 0-1
  • 16:19
    Brian Farrell converts for Meath. Dublin 0-6 Meath 0-2
  • 16:19
  • 16:20
    Michael Dara Macauley looks like he’s played in the forward line all of his life.
  • 16:20
  • 16:20
    Bray scores after a quick break upfield by Meath.
  • 16:22
    Dublin look like they know exactly what they’re going to do in possession. The same can’t really be said of Meath.
  • 16:23
    Bernard Brogan penalised for over-carrying. It could have been a penalty. David Gallagher held Brogan with his legs I thought.
  • 16:24
    Kevin Reilly has picked up an injury. It’ll be interesting to see if he lasts much longer.
  • 16:25
    GAA players love holding onto the ball when a free has been given against them. Opposition players then love coming in and rough-housing them under the guise of trying to get the ball back.
  • 16:26
    Great catch from Farrell. Meath need to be more direct. Farrell wins the free.
  • 16:26
  • 16:27
    24 mins – Farrell converts the free. Dublin 0-6 Meath 0-4
  • 16:27
    Reilly is off. Replaced by Eoin Harrington.
  • 16:27
  • 16:28
    Spectacular point from Alan Brogan there but he may have picked up an injury
  • 16:29
    Meath have definitely got better as the half has wore on but Dublin look more penetrative
  • 16:29
    Reilly is off. Replaced by Eoin Harrington.
  • 16:29
    Reilly is off. Replaced by Eoin Harrington.
  • 16:30
    Cian Ward is on for Alan Forde who was fairly anonymous
  • 16:30
    Joe Sheridan with a wide from distance. That’s a couple of wides in the last few minutes from Meath. They can’t afford to miss opportunities like that.
  • 16:31
    McMenamon with one of the worst shots he’ll ever hit in his life. It’s like I quantum leaped into his body.
  • 16:31
    Eoghan O’Gara replaces the injured Alan Brogan.
  • 16:33
  • 16:34
    Brian Farrell adds another point for Meath. It’s Dublin 0-7 Meath 0-5.
  • 16:34
    Dublin are definitely going to miss Alan Brogan. O’Gara is a completely different player and McManamon probably won’t be as effective in the half-forward line as Alan Brogan would have been.
  • 16:36
    I had written Meath off after 15 minutes. I was wrong. Take note Joe Brolly.
  • 16:37
    Poor miss from Graham Reilly.
  • 16:38
    Dublin look weaker having lost Alan Brogan. Meath look stronger for having introduced Cian Ward.
  • 16:38
    GOAL! Dublin. Bernard Brogan.
  • 16:38
    Dublin 1-7 Meath 0-5
  • 16:39
    O’Gara showed composure to set up Brogan for the easiest of finishes.
  • 16:39
  • 16:39
    GOAL! It’s Dublin’s second! Bastick
  • 16:40

    Half-time: Dublin 2-7 Meath 0-5

  • 16:41
    Denis Bastick had so much space to run into for Dublin’s second goal there and he finished emphatically. Just as Meath looked like they were getting back into the game Dublin sucker punch them with two quick goals.
  • 16:41
  • 16:41
    Eight points is too much for Meath to make up. I refuse to learn my lessons about writing teams off too early.
  • 16:43
    That was a completely disastrous end to the first half for Meath. No. Way. Back. Only Bryan Adams can rescue this now….spirit of ‘91
  • 16:45
    There was a lot of pace at the start of this game but am I being biased to say that Donegal would beat both of these teams? Far more organisation.
  • 16:45
  • 16:47
    Bastick’s finish was superb. A lot of players would have taken a certain point. As it is Bastick may have killed off the game with his killer instinct.
  • 16:49
    I’m going to put my neck on the line and say that I think the only team capable of beating Donegal is Cork and even then…
  • 16:53
  • 16:54
  • 16:55
    69,657 is the attendance at Croke Park today.
  • 16:56
    Peadar Byrne will replace Carroll in the Meath half-forward line.
  • 16:57
    RTÉ announce an attendance of 69, 656 which means at least one Meath fan has left at half-time.
  • 16:58
    The second half is underway at Croker!
  • 16:59
    Brian Farrell gets a point for Meath within 25 seconds of the re-start
  • 16:59
  • 17:00
  • 17:00
    Brogan (I don’t have to specify that it’s Bernard now that Alan’s been subbed off) scores for Dublin.
  • 17:00
    The second half is underway at Croker!
  • 17:00
    The second half is underway at Croker!
  • 17:01
    Cullen took an awful thud to the face there. Accidental but that doesn’t make it any less painful I’m sure.
  • 17:04
    James McCarthy found himself in space but couldn’t get the ball through to the unmarked Eoghan O’Gara
  • 17:05
    Fitzsimons with a superb block in the Dublin defence.
  • 17:06
    Bernard Brogan fires wide with his left foot. I hope he’d prepared to be labelled a fraud by Joe Brolly.
  • 17:06
    Cluxton denies Farrell. A superb save given that Farrell’s shot was a decent one.
  • 17:07
    Joe Sheridan converts the resulting 45
  • 17:07
  • 17:07
    43 mins – Dublin 2-8 Meath 0-7
  • 17:09
    Cullen and Michael Dara Macauley combine for a goal chance. MD Macauley beat the keeper but not the post. Rebounds to safety. Should’ve been a third Dublin goal.
  • 17:09
    O’Gara has been booked.
  • 17:11
    Jamie Queeney on. Brian Meade off for Meath
  • 17:11
    Graham Reilly with a frankly unforgivable wide.
  • 17:12
    This has become very scrappy. Poor standard of football really.
  • 17:13
    Kevin McManamon has been replaced by Paddy Andrews.
  • 17:13
  • 17:16
    There are less than 20 minutes to go and Dublin lead by nine. Meath need goals and yet the fact that they refuse to take points will almost certainly hasten their downfall.
  • 17:16
  • 17:17
  • 17:17
    Interesting. A point initially signalled as a wide provoked a huge reaction from Dublin fans after it was shown on the big screen. The referee then overruled and gave the point.
  • 17:18
    Rory O’Carroll deservedly sees yellow.
  • 17:18
    The Hill booing Brian Farrell as he converts another free. Dublin 2-11 Meath 0-8
  • 17:19
  • 17:20
    The booing from the Hill is really poor form. The worst thing about it is that it gives those holier-than-thou rugby fans an excuse to criticise GAA fans, no?
  • 17:20
    Stephen Bray is off. Mark Collins is on.
  • 17:21
    This game has been over for a long time now. The two goals before half-time killed it really.
  • 17:22
  • 17:22
    O’Gara with a superb point. Nice give and go and a fine finish.
  • 17:22
    58 mins – Dublin 2-12 Meath 0-9
  • 17:23
    Craig Dias has been re-introduced for Dublin (he was a blood sub in the first half)
  • 17:24
  • 17:25
    The last 15 minutes in both the Leinster and Ulster finals have been irrelevant. Does this say something about provincial football?
  • 17:26
    Joe Sheridan attempted a drop-kick for goal. He shouldn’t have. That’s putting it politely.
  • 17:27
    Graham Reilly with a good point. Not that it really matters now. Dublin 2-12 Meath 0-11
  • 17:27
  • 17:28
    Actually a Meath goal would make the last five minutes interesting.
  • 17:28
    Paul Brogan replaces Cullen
  • 17:29
  • 17:29
    So the real winners today are Laois and Tipperary who will take on Meath and Down respectively in the qualifiers next weekend.
  • 17:31
    GOAL! Jamie Queeney
  • 17:31
  • 17:31
    There’s only a goal between them.
  • 17:32
    Great run from Peadar Byrne and some nice passing before Queeney buried it. Dublin 2-12 Meath 1-12
  • 17:32
  • 17:32
    Don’t get too excited. Bernard Brogan has just pointed for Dublin.
  • 17:33
  • 17:33
    Graham Reilly reduces the arrears to three. A goal would secure a replay for Meath
  • 17:34
    I can’t believe Dublin have let it get this close
  • 17:35
    Cynical foul by Barry Cahill
  • 17:35
    He was booked accordingly
  • 17:35
    Farrell shoots with the last kick and it’s caught by Cluxton!
  • 17:36
  • 17:36
    Full-time : Dublin 2-13 Meath 1-13
  • 17:38
    Dublin win and will be mightily relieved. Dublin deserved it but took their foot off the pedal in the second half. Meath will be confident as they look to Laois in the qualifiers.
  • 17:39
    Credit to Meath for the manner in which they came back at Dublin. Peadar Byrne perhaps should have started.
  • 17:41
    Dublin captain Bryan Cullen says that his side made hard work of it but got there in the end. He’s not wrong.
  • 17:42
    An understated acceptance speech. I, for one, welcome that.
  • 17:54
    So we had the same line-up in provincial finals in Ulster and Leinster as we had in 1991 but we had very different results from that year.
    Despite a late scare Dublin held on to secure their second successive Leinster title, this time at Meath’s expense. Donegal too are provincial champions for the second year in a row after they consigned Down to the qualifiers with consummate ease.
    Tipperary will play Down while Laois await Meath next week. Donegal and Dublin meanwhile are safely through to the All-Ireland quarter-finals as provincial champions. Dublin still have work to do but Donegal are beginning to look like they will take some stopping. This isn’t the 1990s but Donegal might have reason to believe the glory of 1992 can be recaptured.
    Remember to pick up your copy of the Irish Times tomorrow for all of the best analysis of today’s games. Until next time….Slán!