Leinster SFC: Meath stun Dublin

Leinster SFC Semi-Final

Meath 0-23 (0-4-15) Dublin 1-16 (1-2-12)

By Paul Keane at Laois Hire O'Moore Park

It took 15 years, but Meath have finally claimed a victory over neighbours Dublin in the Leinster SFC, a remarkable afternoon in Portlaoise ending in a landmark success for the Royal County.

A barnstorming, wind assisted first-half performance that left Robbie Brennan's side a dozen points ahead at the break laid the platform for the thrilling and historic win.

Captain Eoghan Frayne excelled in green with 11 points overall though it was a wonderful team performance as Meath suckered their old rivals to secure a May 11 final clash with Louth.

Dublin hadn't been beaten in Leinster since, ironically, being ambushed by five-goal Meath in 2010.

But it was clear from the opening exchanges of this semi-final encounter that history was potentially on the cards as Meath were fired up and fully tuned in.

There were huge performances too from James Conlon, who struck 0-5, and Mathew Costello along with the likes of Brian O'Halloran and Ciaran Caulfield in defence while Bryan Menton at midfield will be delighted he came out of retirement this season.

As for Dublin, who got it back to a two-point game late on, all is not lost as they will still go forward to the All-Ireland series though the sense of a team struggling to find traction this year is strong.

Meath fans were desperate to see their team tear into the auld enemy in a neutral ground - and got their wish.

With five minutes played, Meath had already launched five different attacks, scored three points, blasted two wides and made it clear they'd be hunting Stephen Cluxton's kick-outs.

Jack Flynn was a late withdrawal from the Meath midfield so the impressive Costello, wearing number 13, lined up alongside Menton.

Costello kicked the opening point after an interception on the Dublin kick-out and was hugely influential throughout.

Cluxton struggled to get any of his kicks away and Meath capitalised each time, turning over possession time after time and returning the ball back over Cluxton's head with interest.

Frayne tried for a two-pointer in the fifth minute that Cluxton cleverly got a hand to, reducing it to a single point.

But Meath kept the pressure on and struck four two-pointers by half-time, two from Frayne, one from Menton and another from Keith Curtis.

Rathkenny man Keith Curtis came into the game in strong form and kept the hammer down with a big first-half, pinching 0-3 in that period.

Conlon seized his chance too after being drafted into the team along with Adam O'Neill.

Conlon struck 1-2 as a sub in the quarter-final win over Offaly and kicked four first-half points as the gap widened.

Dublin didn't get a score attempt away until the ninth minute and Con O'Callaghan was off target anyhow.

It wasn't until the 12th minute that they actually scored, a point from an O'Callaghan free.

In all, Dublin struck just two first-half points from play as they coughed up turnovers in all areas.

They did create a goal chance in the 34th minute but Lorcan O'Dell's shot was cleared away by Seamus Lavin.

O'Dell was one of four changes to the Dubs team from the Wicklow game. Paddy Small and John Small also started their first games of 2025 while Kevin Lahiff made the team up front too.

Lahiff was hooked at half-time for Cormac Costello, lending more punch to Dublin's attack.

The big question was how much the wind advantage would be worth to Dublin after the break as Meath were 0-17 to 0-5 clear.

Now it was their turn to display an appetite for destruction and when Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne won the second-half throw-in, it started a move that led to an O'Callaghan two-pointer.

Dublin wasted three more two-point attempts in the third quarter though three singles from Paddy Small reduced the deficit.

The gap was down to just six when Cormac Costello netted in the 54th minute and suddenly it really was game on at 0-21 to 1-12.

Small and O'Callaghan added two more to leave four in it and a sense of inevitability draped over proceedings.

It was down to two with six minutes remaining when Colm Basquel lofted over Dublin's second two-pointer, 0-21 to 1-16.

Somehow, Meath held on to create a little piece of history with late insurance points from Aaron Lynch and Frayne.

Scorers for Meath: Eoghan Frayne 0-11 (1tp, 1 tpf, 5fs), James Conlon 0-5, Keith Curtis 0-3 (1 tp), Bryan Menton 0-2 (tp), Mathew Costello 0-1, Aaron Lynch 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Con O'Callaghan 0-6 (3fs, 1 tp), Paddy Small 0-5, Cormac Costello 1-1 (0-1f), Colm Basquel 0-3 (1 tp), Lorcan O'Dell 0-1

Meath: Billy Hogan; Brian O'Halloran, Sean Rafferty, Seamus Lavin; Donal Keogan, Sean Coffey, Ciaran Caulfield; Mathew Costello, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, Adam O'Neill; James Conlon, Keith Curtis, Eoghan Frayne.

Subs: Aaron Lynch for Curtis 50, Shane Walsh for Kinsella 54, Ronan Jones for Duke 55, Cathal Hickey for O'Neill 58, Ronan Ryan for Rafferty 61.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Theo Clancy, David Byrne, Conor Tyrrel; Brian Howard, John Small, Tom Lahiff; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Ciaran Kilkenny; Niall Scully, Con O'Callaghan, Kevin Lahiff; Paddy Small, Lorcan O'Dell, Colm Basquel.

Subs: Alex Gavin for Tyrrell 29, Cormac Costello for Kevin Lahiff h/t, Killian McGinnis for Scully 52, Ross McGarry for O'Dell 58, Greg McEneaney for John Small 59.

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone).