Dublin had to earn this one.
The Sky Blues went down to Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday afternoon as hot favourites on the back of wins over Longford and Westmeath in their group games prior.
Unlike Kerry and a number of other teams, Dublin have a full hand to play with in this competition. They’ve a strong outfit, led by Na Fianna’s exciting young attacker James Doran and Ballyboden forward Ross McGarry.
Here is the team named to start for our U20 Footballers' last @gaaleinster championship group game against @OfficialWexGAA! #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/lhouCghmE0
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) June 15, 2018
On their home turf, the Yellow Bellies raced out of the blocks to show that they weren’t overawed by the might of this Dublin side and by half-time, they held a four point, 0-8 0-4 advantage over the fancied Dubs.
The home side kicked a couple of fine points from play and they had the better of this battle in the south east. One of these first half points came from the boot of their keeper, Ferns St. Aidan’s club man Ivan Meegan.
The first of his four points on the day was no ordinary score. When Dublin conceded a free 64 yards out from goal, they hardly expected to be punished directly for it.
Up stepped Ivan the great and he lashed it over off the left to the delight of the home crowd.
Ivan Meegan from 64 yards out from the deck and over the black spot Wexford 0-7 Dublin 0-3
— Wexford GAA (@OfficialWexGAA) June 16, 2018
Meegan was only getting started and a couple of minutes later, he mirrored the tactics of modern football goalkeepers all over the country when he abandoned his goals and went roaming.
His efforts were rewarded when he got the chance to take a shot at goal and he duly obliged, lashing it straight over the black spot and in turn matching the likes of Rory Beggan and joining the esteemed group of ‘keepers to have scored a point from play.
And what a point it was. He ghosts past five Dublin players, displaying serious speed along the way. He eventually took his kick from more than 50 yards out, and what a kick it was.
@OfficialWexGAA keeper, Ivan Meegan, scored this fantastic point from play against @DubGAAOfficial at @InnovateCloud Wexford Park. @Woolberto @ballsdotie @JoeBrolly1993 @JOEdotie @hoganstandgaa @PunditArena pic.twitter.com/Jt56C1CEmO
— WexfordToday.com (@Wexford2day) June 16, 2018
As true champions do, Dublin were undeterred by the mountain and they began scaling the climb directly after the interval. James Doran came into the game and the sky blue train began motoring.
They ate into that lead quickly and eventually raced out comfortable seven point winners. There’s no doubting that this team will go deep into this inaugural under-20 competition and they now advance to the Leinster semis, but it’s fair to say that this day belonged to Wexford’s fly-keeper Meegan.
