Dublin were too good in the end.
Meath started brightly in the Leinster Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park but ultimately Dublin were too strong, running out winners by 0-21 to 0-11.
Jim Gavin’s side stepped up a gear in the second half and pulled away from Meath to set up a Leinster final against Westmeath, who had earlier seen off Kildare.
While the match petered out in the end, as many of the 30,000+ fans in the stadium left early with the game all but over as a contest with 25 minutes to go, there were two moments of controversy in the first half.
The first concerned Diarmuid Connolly, who appeared to be kicked in the head by Meath’s Graham Reilly as he tumbled to the ground.
Certainly Connolly was convinced that he has been kicked by Reilly and reacted by jumping to his feet and barging into the Meath man who promptly fell to the floor.
And speaking on The Sunday Game, Tomás Ó Sé was certain that Reilly should have seen red.
“When you see these things in slow motion, they are way worse looking but he does the draw the boot,” he said. “It’s a red card. The ball is well gone”
There was some agreement for Ó Sé’s position on Twitter.
Meath team intent on hospitalising Diarmuid Connolly before the end of the game #DUBvMEA
— Kevin Clarke (@kevjclarke) June 26, 2016
Though many seemed to see it as a case of Connolly being up to his old tricks.
Didn't take Diarmuid Connolly long to show his lack of discipline!! #Gaa #Sundaygame #Meath #Dubs #LEINSTERSFC
— L. NíHéineacháin (@LaobhaoiseNihE) June 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/GaryTraynor1/status/747129781334990849
Diarmuid Connolly is SCUM 🙅🙅😷😷
— Róisín (@roisiiin) June 26, 2016
Diarmuid Connolly would be getting a black card there if he played for any other county #GAA #leinster16 #TheSundayGame
— Dammit, Märty (@MartysPhotos91) June 26, 2016
Didnt take Diarmuid Connolly ling to show his complete lack of discipline. Cant believe he didnt get a yellow card for it #meathgaa
— Katie Ní Leallaidh (@katielally68) June 26, 2016
Meath’s Mickey Burke also could have seen red card for appearing to throw a punch at Ciaran Kilkenny.
Mickey Burke card for that simple as
— Conor.mortimer ⚽️ (@Conmort) June 26, 2016
Mickey Burke's a clown #GAA
— David Kent (@KentoCCFC) June 26, 2016
