Dublin 0-15
Meath 0-10
DUBLIN WERE CROWNED Leinster U21 football champions for the fourth time in six years tonight as they saw off Meath in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.
Dessie Farrell’s side advance to face the Ulster champions at the All-Ireland semi-final stage after a dominant display that saw them claim the honours.
Dublin, minus the injured Ciaran Kilkenny, had too much strength and class for their opponents with man-of-the-match Shane Carthy excelling while Conor McHugh and Cormac Costello struck 0-8 between them.
At the other end goalkeeper Lorcan Molloy was integral to Dublin’s success as well as he pulled off a vital first-half save from a Bobby O’Brien penalty and then denied Conor Sheridan a goal with a superb stop just after half-time.
Dublin were in front by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval as they reeled off three points before the break from Carthy (2) and Costello to establish a healthy advantage. In contrast Meath struggled in attack as they chalked up eight wides and also missed that penalty from O’Brien.
Dublin began the second-half in style and were 0-11 to 0-4 clear by the 35th minute. They lost their way somewhat then with the loss of Costello through injury a setback but the introduction of St Vincent’s All-Ireland club winner Gavin Burke helping to energize their attack.
Meath kept battling with O’Brien and Seamus Mattimoe reeling off points but Dublin had too much for them at the finish and ran out five-point winners.
Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 0-5 (0-3f), Conor McHugh (0-1f), Shane Carthy (0-1f) 0-3 each, Gavin Burke 0-2, Eric Lowndes, Niall Scully 0-1 each.Scorers for Meath: Bobby O’Brien 0-4, Seamus Mattimoe 0-3 (0-2f), Bryan McMahon (0-1f), Joey Wallace, Shane McEntee 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: Lorcan Molloy (St Anne’s); Robert McDaid (Ballyboden St-Enda’s), David Byrne (Naomh Olaf), Ross McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes); John Small (Ballymun Kickhams), Stephen Cunningham (St Sylvester’s), Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf); Patrick O’Higgins (Raheny), Shane Carthy (Naomh Mearnóg); Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street), Eric Lowndes (St Peregrine’s), Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille); Conor McHugh (Na Fianna), Michael Deegan (Donaghmore-Ashbourne), Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes).
Subs: Shane Boland (Castleknock) for Deegan (23), Gavin Burke (St Vincent’s) for Cunningham (half-time), Emmet O’Conghaile (Lucan Sarsfields) for Costello (50), Shane Cunningham (Kilmacud Crokes) for O’Higgins (55).
MEATH: Andy Colgan (Donaghmore Ashbourne); Simon Carty (Dunderry), Conor McGill (Ratoath), David McQuillan (St Patrick’s); Shane McEntee (St Peter’s Dunboyne), Shane Melia (Donaghmore Ashbourne), Brian Power (Ratoath); Conor Sheridan (Simonstown Gaels), Adam Flanagan (Clonard); Neil Shortall (Curraha), Bobby O’Brien (Ratoath), Pádraic Harnan (Moynalvey); Joey Wallace (Ratoath), Bryan McMahon (Ratoath), Séamus Mattimoe (Gaeil Colmcille).
Subs: Cathal Finn (St Peter’s Dunboyne) for McQuillan (39), Anthony Burke (Duleek/Bellewstown) for Carty (45), Oran Fitzpatrick (Clann na nGael) for Power (51), Barry Dardis for McEntee (55).