Clinical Dunboyne stun the champions
Dunboyne 2-16 Simonstown 0-8
SIMONSTOWN’S dream of a three-in-a-row of Meath SFC crowns was ended in emphatic fashion by a clinical Dunboyne in the first of the semi-finals at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.
The champions relinquished their title with barely a whimper as they were overrun by a rampant Dunboyne in a one-sided second half.
The north Navan side played with the advantage of the stiff breeze in the opening half and enjoyed a 0-7 to 0-3 interval lead.
However, it was apparent soon after half-time that the four-point advantage wouldn’t be nearly enough to sustain their title hopes. Points from Stuart Lowndes, Donal Lenihan (two) and Robbie McCarthy had the sides level by the 35th minute.
Substitute Conor Doran pointed Dunboyne ahead two minutes later and the eventual winners racked up the scores after that, with a long-range effort from the impressive Lenihan leaving it 0-12 to 0-7 early in the final quarter.
Any glimmer of hope Simonstown had disappeared when a crossfield delivery from Lowndes was broken by Ronan Jones and Robbie McCarthy flicked the ball over the head of advancing keeper Robbie Burlingham to the Simonstown net.
Dunboyne added a second goal when Cathal Lacey rifled a great effort past the helpless Burlingham in the closing minutes.
Simonstown only managed a single point in the second half and it came from a Mickey Brennan free on 60 minutes.
The game started promisingly enough for Simonstown, who had the opening three points from Padraig McKeever (two frees) and James Kilcullen. Simonstown then spurned a glorious opportunity after they were awarded a penalty following a foul on Nicky O’Brien. Mark McCabe stepped up to the kick, but his effort was saved by the diving Cian Flynn.
Corner forward McCarthy opened Dunboyne’s account from a free on 13 minutes and he added another point from play in response to a pointed free from McKeever.
Sean Tobin did have a goal chance for Simonstown but only succeeded in finding the side netting.
A David McEntee point left the minimum between the teams, but Simonstown finished the half well with points from Nathan O’Brien and two more from McKeever.
Dunboyne failed to find the net from the penalty spot when they led by the minimum in the third quarter. Donal Lenihan faced up to the kick and blasted high over the bar.
However, Lenihan eventually took his tally to seven points for the hour, while Robbie McCarthy ended with 1-4.
DUNBOYNE: Cian Flynn; Sean Ryan, Shane McEntee 0-1, Jack Donnelly; Cathal Finn, Gavin McCoy, Seamus Lavin; Ronan Jones, Niall Jones 0-1; Stuart Lowndes 0-1, David McEntee 0-1, Liam Byrne; Robbie McCarthy 1-4 (2f), Cian O’Dwyer, Donal Lenihan 0-7 (3f, 1pen). Subs: Conor Doran 0-1 for Finn (3), Cathal Lacey 1-0 for D McEntee (44), Jack Scannell for Ryan (55), Craig Lowndes for Byrne (56), Michael Dunne for O’Dwyer (BC 59). SIMONSTOWN GAELS: Robert Burlingham; Shane Gallagher, Stephen Moran, Mark Gardiner; Brian McGrath, Brian Conlon, Niall Kane; James Kilcullen 0-1, Sean Tobin; Mark McCabe, Padraig McKeever 0-5 (4f), Nicky O’Brien; Ben Hoey, Conor Sheridan, Andrew Kearney. Subs: Nathan O’Brien 0-1 for Kearney (24), Shane Barry for Sheridan (43), Joe Lyons for McCabe (51), Michael Brennan 0-1f for Lyons (54).
REF: Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s)
•A minute’s silence was observed before the game as a mark of respect to the late Jimmy (Scuttler) Brady from the St Mary’s Donore club.