Dublin finish top of group after three-point win over Meath in Leinster U20 football championship
Leinster U20FC: Dublin 0-13 Meath 1-7
Greg McEneaney of Dublin
Dublin finished in top spot in Group 3 of the Eirgrid Leinster Under-20 Football Championship following their three-point victory over Meath at Parnell Park on Tuesday evening.
In doing so, the Dubs advanced to the last four with the Royals having to satisfy themselves with a quarter-final berth by way of consolation.
The visitors enjoyed the greater degree of possession and territory in the opening half but some errant shooting undermined their challenge as Dublin pushed ahead through early points by Clyde Burke, Luke O’Boyle and Jamie McCarville.
Greg McEneaney and John Harkin traded superb points as the half evolved with Meath spurning some presentable chances to peg their opponents back prior to Jamie Murphy’s 21st minute free.
That score failed to offer momentum to Meath as the hosts finished the half in the ascendancy as points from Burke and Paul Reynolds Hand left Dublin 0-6 to 0-3 ahead by the interval.
It didn’t take Meath too long to erode their deficit as a speculative attempt from Cian Commons in the 33rd minute dropped short but Charlie O’Connor was on hand to flick home past David Leonard in the Dublin goal.
Dublin responded impressively to this body blow as regained their authority thanks to a brace of Raynolds Hand frees and points by McEneaney and McCarville.
However, a trio of Meath points by Rian McConnell, Eamon Armstrong and Hughie Corcoran saw Meath to within a point by the 55th minute before excellent solo scores from McEneaney and Joe Quigley saw Dublin home with a fair degree of comfort.
Scorers – Dublin: P Reynolds Hand (3f), G McEneaney 0-3 each, C Burke, J Quigley (1 mark), J McCarville 0-2 each, L O’Boyle 0-1. Meath: C O’Connor 1-0, R McConnell 0-2, E Armstrong, R Stafford, J Harkin, J Murphy (f), H Corcoran (f) 0-1 apiece.
Dublin: D Leonard; S Kirwan, F Bruton, E Nugent; J Smith, G McEneaney, M Gardiner; C McMorrow, D Murphy; M McNally, P Reynolds Hand, C Burke; L O’Boyle, J McCarville, K Flynn. Subs: J Quigley for Flynn (half-time), P Kelly for Reynolds Hand (54), S Ryan for Burke (54), D Kettle for McCarville (58), J Brady for Smith (61).
Meath: O McDermott; L Kelly, S O’Hare, B O’Halloran; E Armstrong, J O’Regan, K Smyth; J Kinlough, C O’Connor; R Stafford, J Harkin, C Duke; R McConnell, C Commons, J Murphy. Subs: H Corcoran for Murphy (38), T Martyn for O’Connor (42), J Harford for Harkin (46), S Leonard for Stafford (54), C Ennis for Smyth (58).
Referee: Enda Kelly (Westmeath).
