Meath defeat Dublin in Sean Cox fundraiser
Eoin Murchan of Dublin in action against Bryan McMahon of Meath during the Seán Cox Fundraising match between Meath and Dublin at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Co Meath.
Sean Cox Fundraiser Senior Football Challenge
MEATH 0-16 DUBLIN 1-11
By Paul Keane at Pairc Tailteann
In the end, the result was almost irrelevant as two old rivals came together at Pairc Tailteann in Navan for a cause greater than Gaelic football.
Around 4,000 turned out for the Sean Cox charity fundraiser between the Dunboyne man's native Dublin and his adopted Meath, raising vital funds for his ongoing recovery.
Cox, a father of three, was left with life changing injuries following an unprovoked attack outside Anfield earlier this year.
His wife Martina and family looked on this afternoon as Meath came from behind with a burst of four late points to claim victory in the novel challenge.
Andy McEntee's side would have kicked themselves if they hadn't won because they led for much of the contest in perfect conditions.
That in itself was a surprise given that Dublin had four of their All-Ireland final starters in the lineup; Footballer of the Year Brian Fenton, Niall Scully, Eoin Murchan and Brian Howard. Paddy Small and Conor Mullally, both of whom featured in last summer's Championship campaign, also started.
Martina Cox, wife of Seán Cox, with their daughters Emma, centre, and Shauna alongside Dublin manager Jim Gavin and Meath manager Andy McEntee before the Seán Cox Fundraising match between Meath and Dublin at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Co Meath.
And it looked as if the four-in-a-row All-Ireland winners might steal the anticipated win when they dominated the third quarter of the game to open up a two-point lead late on.
But four late Meath points from Bryan McMahon, two, Niall Kane and Mickey Newman sealed the win for the hosts.
Newcomer Kane was industrious throughout while Newman, back after a spell away recuperating from injuries, top scored with six points.
Jim Gavin, a Round Tower club man like Cox who grew up in Clondalkin, was on the sideline for Dublin and took the opportunity to assess rookie players, bringing on 11 substitutes.
Stephen Smith from Skerries, who hit 2-4 for Dublin against the Underdogs in October, was lively in attack and hit two early points.
Dublin trailed 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time and by two when Ballyboden's Robbie McDaid pinched a 56th minute goal.
Fenton and Conor McHugh added points and Dublin led 1-11 to 0-12 with 67 minutes played but didn't score against as Meath reeled off those four points.
Scorers for Meath: Mickey Newman 0-6 (0-4f), Graham Reilly 0-3, Bryan McMahon 0-2, Niall Kane 0-1, Bryan Menton 0-1, Ethan Devine 0-1, James McEntee 0-1, Danny Quinn 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: Robbie McDaid 1-0, Stephen Smith 0-2 (0-1f), Conor McHugh 0-2, Brian Fenton 0-1, Paddy Small 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Mullally 0-1, Sean Bugler 0-1, Eric Lowndes 0-1, Darren Gavin 0-1, Ryan Basquel 0-1.
Meath: Andy Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Ronan Ryan; James McEntee, Donal Keogan, Niall Kane; Adam Flanagan, Shane McEntee; Bryan Menton, Graham Reilly, Ethan Devine; Bryan McMahon, Mickey Newman, Thomas O'Reilly. Subs: Mickey Burke for Ryan (42), Danny Quinn for Menton (42), Sean Tobin for Reilly (48), Thomas McGovern for Devine (54), Shane Glynn for McGill (58), Marcus Brennan for Colgan (64), Gavin McCoy for Shane McEntee (64).
Dublin: Andy Bunyan; Robbie McDaid, Sean McMahon, Eoin Murchan; Eric Lowndes, Brian Howard, Conor Mullally; Brian Fenton, Darren Gavin; Niall Scully, Ryan Basquel, Sean Bugler; Paddy Small, Eoghan O'Gara, Stephen Smith. Subs: CJ Smith for Murchan (h/t), Cormac Cowley for Scully (h/t), Aaron Byrne for O'Gara (h/t), Robbie Gaughan for Howard (41), Conor McHugh for Smith (45), Declan Monaghan for Lowndes (50), Shane Boland for Bugler (52), Oisin Lynch for Small (53), Jack Hazley for Fenton (59), Cian Murphy for Mullally (62), Ian Reilly for Bunyan (64).
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).
