2020 Leinster Senior Football Championship final explained

2020 Leinster Senior Football Championship final
Event:2020 Leinster Senior Championship
Team1:Dublin
Team1score:3–21
Team2:Meath
Team2score:0–9
Date:21 November 2020
Stadium:Croke Park
City:Dublin
Referee:Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary)
Attendance:0
Previous:2019
Next:2021

The 2020 Leinster Senior Football Championship final was played at Croke Park in Dublin on 21 November 2020. It was contested by Dublin and Meath. Dublin won a tenth consecutive title.[1]

Background

The game was held on a date originally intended for the second test of the 2020 International Rules Series. That event was cancelled in April 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, which also led to the delayed championship.[2] [3] The GAA had proposed to hold a memorial ahead of the second test in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre, which saw fourteen civilians killed at a football match at Croke Park during the Irish War of Independence.[4] This was instead held ahead of the 2020 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final.

As originally announced, the GAA intended the game to occur after a ceremonial "finishing of the match" featuring Dublin and Tipperary teams consisting of "available county or club players".[5] However, Dublin were playing in this game and Tipperary qualified for the 2020 Munster Senior Football Championship Final which was held the following day, limiting player availability.

Match details

width=25
1 Stephen Cluxton (c)
2 M. Fitzsimons
3 Jonny Cooper
4 Eoin Murchan
5 J. McCarthy
6 J. Small
7 R. McDaid
8 Brian Fenton
9 D. Byrne
10N. Scully
11C. Kilkenny
12S. Bugler
13P. Small
14C. O'Callaghan
15Dean Rock
Substitutes:
?B. Howard for Cooper
?P. Mannion for P. Small
?E. Lowndes for J. Small
?C. Costello for O'Callaghan
?K. McManamon for Kilkenny

Manager:
Dessie Farrell
1 M. Brennan
2 S. Lavin
3 C. McGill
4 D. Toner
5 Donal Keogan
6 Shane McEntee
7 M. Costello
8 B. Menton
9 R. Jones
10C. O'Sullivan
11B. McMahon
12R. Ryan
13J. Morris
14S. Walsh
15T. O'Reilly
Substitutes:
?C. Hickey for Toner
?E. Harkin for McGill
?E. Devine for Costello
?J. Scully for McMahon
?J. Wallace for O'Reilly


Manager:
Andy McEntee
Man of the Match:

Post-match

Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton laid a wreath for the centenary.[6]

Former Dublin player Ciarán Whelan said the result was "worrying" for the sport and that his former team "have their opponents psychologically smashed".[7]

The result, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, meant Dublin directly qualified for an All-Ireland semi-final against Cavan. Dublin won, easily, to qualify for the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, the eighth time in ten years that Dublin reached the decider.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dublin secure perfect 10 on emotional night at Croke Park. irishexaminer.com. 21 November 2020 . 2 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Future of International Rules series up in the air as 2020 games cancelled due to coronavirus crisis . Independent News & Media . independent.ie . 5 April 2020 . 13 April 2020 .
  3. Web site: Herald Sun. McFarlane. Glenn. 5 April 2020. 5 April 2020. AFL calls off International Rules series this year, with doubts on its future viability.
  4. Web site: Rules return to feature Bloody Sunday memorial. Independent.ie. 19 November 2019.
  5. News: GAA launch series of tributes to the Croke Park Bloody Sunday victims. Hogan Stand. 2 September 2020.
  6. Web site: Ten-in-a-row Dublin have mastered the art of evolution. irishexaminer.com. 22 November 2020 . 2 December 2020.
  7. Web site: Whelan: Rest of Leinster is 'psychologically smashed'. rte.ie. 21 November 2020 . 2 December 2020.
  8. News: Dublin beat Cavan at a canter to reach another final. RTÉ. 5 December 2012.