And Dubs fans will need no reminding that on the last occasion they put one over on their old rivals, they went all the way and won the All-Ireland title.

A crowd of 65,898 at a magnificently redeveloped GAA headquarters witnessed what could be the birth of a footballing renaissance in the capital.

And the style and poise with which they crafted this superb victory promises much for a side which bears the distinctive Lyons mark, a combination of superb fitness, tactical awareness and almost arrogant self-belief.

The silky skills of Alan Brogan illuminated a first-half which announced the arrival of this new generation of Dublin footballers.

He ran Meath's established defenders ragged and by the end of the game was being shadowed by his fourth different marker.

The trickery and speed of Brogan sparked terror into the Meath defence every time he gained possession, and neither Cormac Murphy nor subsequent marker Mark O'Reilly could find a way to handle the Dublin corner forward.

He steered over three superb points, created two for Colin Moran and thrilled the Hill 16 faithful each time he gained possession.

It was all going so well for the Dubs when Ray Cosgrove rose highest to punch a Senan Connell free to the net after just 15 minutes.

Meath were strangely hesitant at the back, indecisive up front and lacking in serious presence at midfield, particularly after losing John Cullinane to injury inside the opening minute.

Six first-half wides to Dublin's two illustrated the attacking problems they faced in the absence of the injured Ollie Murphy, and although Graham Geraghty and Evan Kelly did kick points, their wastefulness saw them go in at the break with a 1-07 to 0-05 deficit.

Dublin stretched their lead to eight early in the second-half, not even the introduction of wounded hero Murphy could spark a Meath revival of any genuine quality.

They did claw their way back with scores from a strangely subdued Trevor Giles, Geraghty, Nigel Crawford and Murphy to leave just a goal between the sides with seven minutes to play.

But there was always a feeling that Dublin would hold on to this one, and that they would not be made to pay for allowing themselves the luxury of nine second-half wides.

And so it proved, with Cosgrove grabbing his second goal five minutes from the end, fisting to the net after goalkeeper Cormac Sullivan had failed to gather beneath his crossbar.