Frayne fires Royals past Dublin

DUBLIN failed to score in the final 22 minutes as they made a tame exit from the Leinster MFC at Páirc Tailteann.

The Dubs led for the only time when Luke Ward pointed them ahead 30 seconds into the second half. They were on level terms following a Luke Breathnach point on 38 minutes but failed to add to their tally after that as the hosts produced a brilliant final third.

Full-forward Eoghan Frayne playing a captain’s role and accounted for four Meath points in an 11-minute spell in the third quarter. Frayne’s fifth point of the half pushed the Royals into a 0-11 to 0-7 lead and Aaron Murphy’s goal on 45 minutes sealed it for Meath.

SCORERS – Meath: E Frayne 0-7 (2f); A Murphy 1-1; R Kinsella 0-3; J McDonagh 0-2; C Caulfield (f), C Gray 0-1 each. Dublin: D Dempsey 0-2 (2f); C Dolan (f), E O’Connor Flanagan, L Breathnach, S Gannon, L Ward 0-1 each.

MEATH – B Hogan; B Moran, L Kelly, B Donnelly; S O’Donoghue, O Kelly, C Caulfield, S Emmanuel, C Gray; S Maguire, R Kinsella, J McDonagh; A Bowden, E Frayne, A Murphy. Subs: L Stafford for Maguire (55), T Corbett for McDonagh (57), C Sheehy for Murphy (58).

DUBLIN – H O’Sullivan; S O’Driscoll, T Clancy, R O’Shea; E O’Connor Flanagan, D O’Rourke, G McEneaney; A Gavin, T Brennan; C Dolan, L Breathnach, S Smith; S Gannon, D Dempsey, L Ward.

Subs: D Keogh for Dolan (42), F Turner for Dempsey (46), R Keogh for Gannon (47), E Wilde for Smith (47), M Lynch for Brennan (58).

REF – A Coyne (Westmeath).