Dublin GAA run riot against Meath as Carla Rowe leads first-half thumping in Croke Park dress rehearsal

FOUR first-half goals put Dublin on course to a comfortable win in the Leinster ladies SFC.

It was Dublin’s third win in this year’s competition, as Parnell Park acted as the venue for what was a dress rehearsal before the two sides meet in the final at Croke Park this coming weekend.

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While Dublin attacked right from the start, it was Meath who grabbed the opening score, through Seona Lynch on two minutes.

But this early lead did not last. Nicole Owens hit the net on four minutes for the first of Dublin’s four first-half goals.

Two minutes later and the ball was in the back of the Meath net once more, Carla Rowe this time the one to convert after a brilliant exchange with Annabelle Timothy.

Sinéad Goldrick then saw her effort rebound off the Meath crossbar and parried away by Robyn Murray.

Carla Rowe kicked two points for the Sky Blues, with Goldrick twice, Owens and Jennifer Dunne also adding scores.

In the meantime, Meath pointed with an Orlaith Mallon free and a long-range beauty from Meadhbh Byrne.

Dublin landed their third goal when the Sky Blues again created the overlap and a ball from Rowe found Dunne who finished dutifully.

Meath were caught on the overlap once more on 26 minutes with Caoimhe O’Connor firing the ball past Murray.

Dublin led comfortably at the break, 4-8 to 0-5.

The second half was quieter.

The two sides exchanged points before a mis-hit kickout landed in the arms of Owens and the St Sylvester’s player added her second goal as she tapped home to an empty net.

Meath continued to show up well with points from Seona Lynch and Amy O’Leary but Dublin finished the stronger as they look ahead to next Sunday’s decider.

DUBLIN: R Fleming, K Murray, M Byrne, N Crowley, H McGinnis, S Goldrick 0-3, A Kane, J Dunne 1-2, L Magee, C O’Connor 1-0, O Nolan 0-1, C Rowe 1-2, A Timothy, H Tyrrell 0-2, 1f, N Owens 2-1.

Subs: L Caffrey for Magee h-t, E Gribben 0-1 for Murray h-t, C Coffey for Timothy 42 mins, H Hegarty 0-1 for Goldrick 50, A Shiels for Fleming 50.

MEATH: R Murray, C Lawlor, O Gore, K Kealy, T Foster, I O’Connor, K Newe, A McCabe, R Casserly, M Byrne 0-2, S Lynch 0-2, O Mallon 0-2f, M Collins, K Cole 0-1, A Leahy.

Subs: S Caulfield for Newe h-t, C Doherty for Casserly 34 mins, C Gorman for Collins 34, E McCann for O’Connor 39, A O’Leary 0-1 for Cole 39.

REFEREE: E O’Neill (Laois).