Dublin had to call on all their composure and class at Croke Park on Sunday to hold off a spirited Meath side and make it a dozen Leinster Senior Football Championship titles in a row.
Shane McCormack’s Royals led by four points early in the second half and looked on course to upset the champions, but Dublin turned the tide in emphatic fashion.
Eight unanswered points in the final quarter sealed the deal in what was the opening act of a double-header also featuring the men’s Leinster final between Meath and Louth.
Meath exploded out of the blocks, with Emma Duggan helping herself to two early scores.
She was well-supported by Vikki Wall, Marion Farrelly and Ciara Smyth, as the Royals moved five clear before Dublin even got going.
It took a typically assured strike from Hannah Tyrrell to get the Sky Blues on the board just before the 15-minute mark.
Caoimhe O’Connor of Dublin is tackled by Meath goalkeeper Robyn Murray during the TG4 Leinster LGFA Senior Football Championship final match between Dublin and Meath. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Although Duggan knocked over a couple of frees in response, Tyrrell dragged Dublin back into the contest with a brilliant right-footed finish to the net midway through the half.
Momentum had shifted.
Eilish O’Dowd added a second goal soon after, and with Niamh Donlon raiding forward from corner-back to clip a fine score, Dublin nudged in front by a single point at the break—2-3 to 0-8.
Meath weren’t done, though. Just two minutes into the second half, Niamh Gallogly smashed in a stunning goal that reignited their challenge.
Further points from Duggan and Wall left Dublin trailing by four once again heading into the final quarter.
But the champions found another gear when it mattered most.
Tyrrell reeled off three successive points to bring her side level, and Carla Rowe’s free in the 50th minute swung the game back in Dublin’s favour.
With the pressure now mounting on Meath, Dublin finished with a flourish.
Niamh Hetherton, Sinead Goldrick, Rowe and Kate Sullivan all added points to complete a dominant final spell and ensure the silverware stayed in the capital.
Scorers:
Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-4 (0-2f), E O’Dowd 1-0, N Hetherton 0-2, K Sullivan 0-2, C Rowe 0-2 (1f), N Donlon 0-1, C O’Connor 0-1, S Goldrick 0-1.
Meath: E Duggan 0-7 (5f), V Wall 0-3 (1f), N Gallogly 1-0, M Farrelly 0-1, C Smyth 0-1.
Dublin Team: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, N Donlon; H McGinnis, M Byrne, L Magee; E O’Dowd, G Kos; C O’Connor, C Darby, S McIntyre; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, A Timothy.
Subs: S Goldrick for McGinnis (19), K Sullivan for Darby, C Rowe for Timothy (both HT), N Crowley for Donlon (41), R McDonnell for McIntyre (60).
Meath Team: R Murray; A Sheridan, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Cleary, S Wall, K Kealy; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth; E Duggan, V Wall, K Cole.
Subs: K Bermingham for Farrelly (20), E Moyles for Smyth (45), M Collins for Cole (54).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford)