Fiachra Ward, Wolfe Tones, and Jarad Rushe, Dunshaughlin, collide during the Meath SFC Final at Páirc Tailteann. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Meath SFC Final
Dunshaughlin 2-7 Wolfe Tones 1-8
By Paul Keane at Páirc Tailteann
Mathew Costello won't forget the concluding minutes of this Meath SFC final anytime soon, that's for sure.
From coughing up possession deep in his own defence, leading to a crucial goal for Wolfe Tones, to then scoring the match winning goal for Dunshaughlin, clinching them a first county title since 2002, it was a remarkable finale for the county attacker.
Costello cursed his errant kick in the 52nd minute when he booted a free straight to 38-year-old Wolfe Tones substitute Cian Ward, who took full advantage, running clear and blasting to the Dunshaughlin net.
That goal put Kilberry outfit Tones a point ahead and they moved two clear shortly after. With the stiff wind behind them in storm battered Navan, Tones must have fancied their chances of claiming a third title and their second since 2021.
But Costello then redeemed himself in spectacular fashion, firstly poking in a 60th minute goal which reclaimed the lead for Dunshaughlin and then converting a free which ultimately ensured the Richie Kealy managed side won by a two-point margin.
It is Dunshaughlin's fourth senior title having previously completed a three-in-a-row of wins between 2000 and 2002.
They also won the Leinster championship in 2002, the last club from Meath to do so, and will return to the provincial scene when they face the Westmeath representatives St Lomans of Mullingar, back in Navan, on November 3.
Meath's Ruairi Kinsella scored Dunshaughlin's early goal, 1-2 in total, and was crowned Man of the Match.
The gale force wind blew diagonally across the field and favoured Dunshaughlin initially.
Though whether it actually helped the Village was debatable given that they typically prefer to work the ball up the field through the lines.
What they found whenever they tried that strategy was a wall of purple jerseys already waiting for them and, all too often, Dunshaughlin's attacks came to nought.
Tones appeared to come armed with a defence first plan, when playing into the wind at least.
It worked to an extent because while Dunshaughlin took a 1-3 to 0-3 lead into the interval, the suspicion was that they probably needed to be further ahead given the strength of the breeze.
In the earlier junior final, the team that had been behind at half-time, Dunsany, capitalised on the wind in the second-half to win their first ever title at the grade.
So, Wolfe Tones must have fancied their chances though they would clearly need to create more chances.
They had four shots at the posts in the first-half, resulting in three points, two of which came from frees.
Dunshaughlin were undermined at the other end by seven first-half wides and were mightily grateful to county man Kinsella for his eighth minute goal.
They should have pushed on after that but only managed three more points before the interval.
Costello surged forward early in the second-half, won a free and converted for Dunshaughlin to stretch their lead to four points, 1-4 to 0-3.
But it was a score against the run of play and Wolfe Tones dominated the third quarter, using the wind to hoist over long-range scores from former Meath attacker Saran O Fionnagain and O'Reilly.
By the time veteran forward Ward came on in the 48th minute, there was just a point in it with Dunshaughlin now only 1-4 to 0-6 ahead.
A Costello score reopened a two-point gap but Costello was then caught out at the back for the crucial Tones goal, a stray free from the big number 14 caught up in the wind and landed straight in the grateful arms of Ward who raced clear and hit the net.
O Fionnagain added a point and suddenly the side from north of Navan led by 1-7 to 1-5.
That was as good as it got for Tones though as Dunshaughlin finished impressively, Costello celebrating the all important goal with a clenched fist after capitalising on a high ball in from substitute John McDonagh with a close range poke in.
Scorers for Dunshaughlin: Ruairi Kinsella 1-2 (1f), Mathew Costello 1-2 (2fs), Luke Mitchell 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Duke 0-1, Fursey Blake 0-1.
Scorers for Wolfe Tones: Thomas O'Reilly 0-4 (4fs), Cian Ward 1-0, Saran O Fionnagain 0-3, Dan O'Neill 0-1.
Dunshaughlin: Tim O'Sullivan; Adam Kealy, Jared Rushe, Ben Duggan; Ciaran McCarrick, Daryll McKenna, Niall Byrne; Charlie O'Connor, Conor Gray; David Fildes, Ruairi Kinsella, Mathew Costello; Aaron Murphy, Conor Duke , Luke Mitchell.
Subs: John McDonagh for Mitchell h/t, Fursey Blake for McKenna 48, Fiach Hartigan for Fildes 56, Neil Byrne for Murphy 58, Fergus Toolan for Duggan 63.
Wolfe Tones: Ciaran O Gallachoir; Shane Glynn, Dan O'Neill, Conor Sheppard; Sean Penny, Brugach O Fionnagain, Niall O'Reilly; Alan Callaghan, Adam O'Neill; Adrian Crawford, Oisin Martin, Caolan Ward; Thomas O'Reilly, Fiachra Ward, Saran O Fionnagain.
Subs: Cian Ward for Callaghan 45, Stephen Sheppard for Crawford 52.
Referee: Patrick Coyle (Curraha).
