Meath 4-18
DCU 3-6
RISING STAR CILLIAN O’SULLIVAN shot 2-2 as Meath moved within 70 minutes of their first piece of silverware under Mick O’Dowd.
The Moynalvey youngster and 2012 All-Ireland minor finalist was a class apart, netting twice in the first-half and setting up several more scores.
Midfielder Andrew Tormey was also on the mark with a penalty conversion as youthful Meath hit the interval with a commanding 3-8 to 1-3 lead.
And full-forward David Bray wrapped up the goal blitz with Meath’s fourth in the 57th minute.
The high scoring win keeps Meath’s average above the 20 point mark for each of their four O’Byrne Cup games so far.
It also secures them a shot at holders and old rivals Kildare next weekend in Newbridge.
Manager O’Dowd, who guided Meath to last summer’s Leinster final, will be pleased to have won so comfortably without key players Kevin Reilly, Stephen Bray and Conor Gillespie.
His new look team with Mickey Burke at full-back, Paddy Gilsenan at wing-back and a midfield duo of Shane O’Rourke and Tormey looked fluid and sharp.
Conor McGraynor and Jack Brady netted late on for DCU but Meath were too powerful and sub Mickey Newman made a strong impact with 0-4.
Scorers for Meath: Cillian O’Sullivan 2-2 (0-2f), David Bray 1-2, Andrew Tormey 1-1 (1-0 pen), Mickey Newman 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 45), Dalton McDonagh 0-3, Damien Carroll 0-2 (0-1 45), Graham Reilly, Paddy Gilsenan, Padraig McKeever and David Larkin 0-1 each.
Scorers for DCU: Conor McHugh 1-2, Conor McGraynor and Jack Brady 1-0 each, Brian Donnelly 0-2 (0-2f), Tom Flynn (0-1f) and Gary Kelly (0-1f) 0-1 each.
MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke; Donal Keogan, Mickey Burke, Davy Dalton; Donncha Tobin, Eoghan Harrington, Paddy Gilsenan; Shane O’Rourke, Andrew Tormey; Cillian O’Sullivan, Dalton McDonagh, Graham Reilly; Damien Carroll, David Bray, Donal Lenihan.
Subs: Michael Newman for Reilly h/t, Bryan McMahon for Lenihan 51, Padraig McKeever for McDonagh 53, Conor Sheridan for Tormey 58, Caolan Young for Tobin 58, David Larkin for O’Rourke 66.
DCU: James Farrelly; Willie Lowry, Craig Dunleavy, Ciaran Cafferkey; Edwin Murray, Davy Byrne, Pete Dooney; Brian Donnelly, Tom Flynn; Conor McHugh, Paddy Fox, Michael Quinn; Micheal McCarthy, Conor McGraynor, Donal Wrynn.
Subs: Eoin O’Connor for Flynn black card 11, Gary Kelly for McCarthy 17, Kieran Ward for Lowry 20, E Smith for Fox 25, Jack Brady for Smith 42, Fintan Kelly for Ward for 45.
Referee: N Ward (Westmeath)