Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final: Dublin v Meath (tomorrow, Croke Park, 4.30pm, live on GAAGO)
THESE counties have shared the last 16 Leinster titles between them: Dublin have won 15, Meath got the other one in 2010.
Since that blip a dozen years ago, the Dubs have won 11 provincial titles on-the-trot and of course eight All-Irelands and more Allstars than you could shake a stick at but they lost their grip on the Sam Maguire last year and were relegated from the top flight this year.
Hampered by injuries to key personnel, the Dubs looked a shadow of their former selves and lost four on-the-trot against Armagh, Kerry, Mayo and then Kildare. Despite finding their feet temporarily, losing to a hungrier Monaghan side in Clones meant the mighty Dubs were relegated to Division Two, something that would have been unthinkable three seasons ago.
They’ll play Meath in the second tier next year but that actually looked very unlikely at one stage of this season when the Royals appeared to be on the way to Division Three.
It took them until the 45th minute to score in their opener against Galway and they had put just two points on the table after four games. Injury problems played a role in that and, when back at full strength, Andy McEntee’s men showed their worth and were able to save their skins by beating Cork and Clare.
They ran Derry close in the final round, giving a good account of themselves at Pairc Tailteann until a grandstand finish from the Oak Leafers saw them take the points. Meath looked a capable side against Derry. They lack a marquee Championship forward but there is a plenty of pace and physicality in Andy McEntee’s side. Goalkeeper Harry Hogan is as good a sweeper-keeper/free-taker as there is out there and midfielder Bryan Menton and Cillian O’Sullivan are among those who will relish having another crack at the Dubs.
Meath had 10 points to spare in their provincial opener against Wicklow but has the gap between them and narrowed enough for an upset tomorrow?
On the evidence of Dublin’s Leinster opener, it doesn’t appear so. Dessie Farrell’s side returned to their old massacring ways with a 23-point hammering of Wexford in which fit-again Con O'Callaghan (1-5), Dean Rock (0-5), Brian Fenton (0-5) and Cormac Costello (0-3) played themselves into fine form by gorging on the scores that were there for the taking.
Dublin’s defence was their Achilles Heel throughout the League but Wexford weren’t able to put any sustained pressure on the Dublin rearguard. Meath should be able to ask many more questions tomorrow and they did so at this stage last year.
This derby still captures attention because of the long history of rivalry between the counties but Dublin have humbled their old enemy in recent years. In the 2019 Leinster final there were 16 points in it at the final whistle, in 2020 there were 21.
But last year Dublin, displaying early warning signs of their decline, won by ‘just’ six. Meath dominated the third quarter to reduce the gap to three points and the Dubs did pull away towards the finish but they were rattled.
The Royals must take confidence from that but although Dublin have lost their unbeatable aura but they should still have too much for them. Expect Meath to win some battles but the Dubs will win the war.
IN tomorrow’s first semi-final (2.15pm live on GAAGO) Kildare take on Westmeath in the curtainraiser at Croke Park.
Kildare won plenty of admirers but not enough points to stay in Division One this year but they did have some memorable moments – beating Dublin in Newbridge obviously the best of all.
The strength of Glen Ryan’s side is its potent attack in which Paddy Woodgate, Jimmy Hyland and Daniel Flynn are all outstanding footballers.
They registered eight points between them in the quarter-final win over Mickey Harte’s Louth side which had beaten tomorrow’s opponents Westmeath in Division Three.
Underdogs Westmeath missed out on promotion but were driven on to a 3-13 to 0-14 win in their Championship opener against Longford thanks to 1-5 from talisman John Heslin.
