Leinster U20FC final promises to be a fascinating duel

Friday night's EirGrid Leinster U20FC final in O'Connor Park, Tullamore (7.30) promises to be a fascinating duel between Dublin and Laois.

While Dublin have enjoyed victories comfortable victories over both Longford and Wexford it is Laois who have travelled the far more difficult road with wins against Kildare, Westmeath (after extra-time) and a well-fancied Meath.

In the quarter-final Dublin had victory secured by half-time against Longford when leading 1-15 to 0-2 with Ciarán Archer, Ross McGarry and Brian O'Leary doing the bulk of the scoring.

The went on to win 4-21 to 0-7 with second half goals from Archer, his second of the game, this one from a penalty, Harry Ladd and David Lacey.

Wexford posed a more difficult test but Dublin again started well to lead 0-9 to 0-2 at the break before Archer's goal immediately on the resumption following a great break through the middle from Donal Ryan.

Laois are a very potent unit under manager Billy O'Loughlin with seniors Seán O'Flynn and Mark Barry returning to the U20 set-up following their senior exit to Cork in Round 4 of the SFC qualifiers a few weeks back.

Diarmuid Whelan has been their scorer-in-chief to date with a tally of 0-20 (0-8f) while Michael Doran, big full-forward Dan McCormack and Alan Kinsella their goal-scorers.

Here we take a look at the path of both counties to Friday's provincial decider.

DUBLIN (U20FC v Laois):  David O'Hanlon (Na Fianna); Darren Maher (St Patrick's, Donabate), Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields), Eoin O'Dea (Na Fianna); Kieran Kennedy (Ballyboden St Enda's), Neil Matthews (Erin's Isle), Seán Lambe (St Vincent’s); Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala), Donal Ryan (Na Fianna); Niall O'Leary (Kilmacud Crokes), Karl Lynch Bissett (Naomh Mearnóg), James Doran (Na Fianna); Brian O'Leary (Na Fianna), Ciarán Archer (St Maur's), Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda's).

LAOIS (U20FC v Dublin): Matthew Byron (Courtwood); Michael Dowling (Portlaoise), Seamus Lacey (Ballylinan), Alex Mohan (Portarlington); Colin Slevin (Portarlington), Seán O’Flynn (Courtwood), Dean Brophy (St Joseph’s); Robert Tyrell (Camross), Eoin Dunne (Rosenallis); Ronan Coffey (Portarlington), Michael Doran (Killeshin), Mark Barry (O’Dempseys); Alan Kinsella (Courtwood), Dan McCormack (O’Dempsey’s), Diarmuid Whelan (Ballyroan-Abbey).

Note: Spectators travelling to Friday night's Leinster U20FC final are advised that there are major roadworks currently in Tullamore and so it is recommended to use the ring road around Tullamore and come off at the hospital exit.

DUBLIN U20 FOOTBALLERS

Dublin under-20 footballers have scored 5-38 and conceded 0-13 in their two games to date (wins over Longford and Wexford). Ten players have contributed to their scoring tally.

Scoring Chart

Ciarán Archer 3-16 (1-0 pen, 0-12f)

Ross McGarry 0-6 (0-2f)

Harry Ladd 1-2

James Doran 0-4

Brian O'Leary 0-4

David Lacey 1-1

Niall O'Leary 0-2

Karl Lynch Bissett 0-1

Mark Lavin 0-1

Conor Kinsella 0-1

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LEINSTER U20FC QUARTER-FINAL

TUESDAY, JULY 2: Glennon Bros Pearse Park, Longford

DUBLIN 4-21 LONGFORD 0-7

SCORERS - Dublin: C Archer 2-8 (1-0 pen, 0-5f), H Ladd 1-2, R McGarry 0-4 (0-1f), D Lacey 1-1, J Doran, B O'Leary 0-2 each, K Lynch Bissett, M Lavin 0-1 each. Longford: O Kenny 0-4 (0-3f), J Hagan 0-2 (0-1f), A McGuire 0-1.

DUBLIN: D O'Hanlon; D Maher, D Newcombe, E O'Dea; K Kennedy, N Matthews, S Lambe; P O Cofaigh, D Ryan; N O'Leary, K Lynch Bissett, J Doran; B O'Leary, C Archer, R McGarry. Subs: H Ladd for McGarry (ht), A Lynch for Maher (42), M Lavin for N O'Leary (42), D Conlon for Matthews (48), D Lacey for Doran (48), S Farrelly for O Cofaigh Byrne (56).

LONGFORD: P Murray; G Hughes, PJ Masterson, D Corcoran; E McCormack, P Duggan, S Farrell; N Farrelly, D O'Brien; G Flynn, J Hagan, K Gilmore; O Kenny, A McGuire, J Shiels. Subs: D Ciglianio for Farrell (25), E Keogh for Gilmore (ht), P Molloy for Shiels (34), S Campbell for Duggan (35), J Martin for Flynn (38), E Smyth for Corcoran (56).

LEINSTER U20FC SEMI-FINAL

TUESDAY, JULY 9: Parnell Park

DUBLIN 1-17 WEXFORD 0-6

SCORERS - Dublin: C Archer 1-8 (0-7f), N O'Leary, B O'Leary, J Doran, R McGarry (0-1f) 0-2 each, C Kinsella 0-1. Wexford: M Molloy 0-2, J Myler (0-1f), S Nolan, C Kavanagh, D Brooks (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: D O'Hanlon; D Maher, D Newcombe, E O'Dea; K Kennedy, N Matthews, S Lambe; P O Cofaigh Byrne, D Ryan; N O'Leary, K Lynch Bissett, J Doran; B O'Leary, C Archer, R McGarry. Subs: K McKeon for McGarry (40), C Kinsella for Matthews (48), D Lacey for Lynch Bissett (48), A Lynch for O'Dea (53), S Farrelly for O Cofaigh Byrne (58), E Caulfield for N O'Leary (59).

WEXFORD: D Brooks; K Pierce, G Sheehan, L O'Connor; B Byrne, A Hogan, E Minouge; B Maddock, L Coleman; D McVeigh, J Myler, S Nolan; M Molloy, S Forde, C Kavanagh. Subs: C Kirwan for Hogan (ht), J Kelly for McVeigh (ht), P Kelly for Forde (50), M Kinsella for Byrne (56), P Dempsey for Minouge (61), J Kavanagh for Pierce (61).

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LAOIS U20 FOOTBALLERS

Laois have scored 3-50 and conceded 1-38 in their three games to date (wins over Kildare, Westmeath (after extra-time) and Meath). Eleven players have contributed to their scoring tally.

Scoring Chart

Diarmuid Whelan 0-20 (0-8)

Michael Doran 1-6

Alan Kinsella 1-6 (0-1f)

Dan McCormack 1-3

Mark Barry 0-4 (0-3f)

Ronan Coffey 0-3

Eoin Dunne 0-3 (0-1 '45')

Jack Owens 0-2

Colin Slevin 0-1

Robert Tyrrell 0-1

Dean Brophy 0-1

LEINSTER U20FC FIRST ROUND

SATURDAY, MAY 25: St Conleth's Park, Newbridge

LAOIS 0-17 KILDARE 1-11

LAOIS: M Byron, M Dowling, S Lacey, A Mohan, C Slevin, J Lacey, D Brophy (0-1); R Tyrell, E Dunne (0-1, 0-1 45); R Coffey (0-1), M Doran (0-4), N Dunne, A Kinsella, D McCormack, D Whelan (0-10, 0-3 f). Subs: J Owens for McCormack (49), M Dempsey for Dunne (57), PJ Daly for Doran (60), J Maher for Kinsella (60+2) K Byrne for Slevin (60+4).

KILDARE: A O’Neill; N O’Sullivan, M Barrett, C Halpin, E McGovern, DJ Earley. D Ryan; J Carey, J Burke; L O’Flynn 0-1, D Kirwan 0-3, B McDonnell 0-1, C Joyce 0-2, J Cully 0-2 (0-1 f), L Griffin 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f). Subs: S Cullen for O’Flynn (38), P Behan for Carey (40) S O’Sullivan for Joyce (40), B Stynes for Halpin (46 b/c), P McDermott for McGovern (51), A Steed for McDonnell (58).

LEINSTER U20FC QUARTER-FINAL

TUESDAY, JULY 2: TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar

LAOIS 2-20 WESTMEATH 0-20 (After extra-time)

LAOIS: M Byron; A Mohan, S Lacey, M Dowling; C Slevin, J Lacey, D Brophy; R Tyrrell (0-1), E Dunne (0-2); N Dunne, M Doran (1-1), R Coffey; A Kinsella (0-5, 0-1f), D McCormack (1-2), D Whelan (0-8, 0-5f). Subs: PJ Daly for Coffey (37), J Owens (0-1) for N Dunne (37), J Maher for Doran (49), R Coffey for Slevin (69), K Byrne for Lacey (76), N Dunne for Kinsella (77).

WESTMEATH: J Nugent; E Bracken, A Robinson, S Rock; P Gorman; J Maxwell, D Martin (0-1), E Mulvihil; N Cully (0-3), A Flanagan (0-1); S McCartan, K Stone; TJ Cox (0-4, 0-1f), D Heavin (0-6, 0-4f), B Cox (0-2, 0-1sl). Subs: C Nolan (0-1) for Stone (22), A Neary (0-2, 0-1f) for McCartan (35), J Coughlan for Flanagan (45), C Murphy for Heavin (47), A Nugent for TJ Cox (50), S McGonagle for Murphy (60 + 5, B/C), A Flanagan for Bracken (e-t), TJ Cox for Coughlan (e-t), S McCartan for Flanagan (70), J Beaumont for Neary (73).

LEINSTER U20FC SEMI-FINAL

TUESDAY, JULY 9: O'Moore Park, Portlaoise

LAOIS 1-13 MEATH 0-7

LAOIS: M Byron; M Dowling, S Lacey, A Mohan; C Slevin (0-1), S O’Flynn, D Brophy; R Tyrell, E Dunne; M Barry (0-4, 3f), M Doran (0-1), R Coffey (0-2); A Kinsella (1-1), D McCormack (0-1), D Whelan (0-2). Subs: N Dunne for E Dunne (Blood 29-HT); J Owens (0-1) for Doran (41); N Dunne for Tyrell (47); J Maher for McCormack (51); M Dempsey for Coffey (54); K Byrne for Brophy (61); B Wheatley for Barry (64).

MEATH: A Beakey; S Ryan, R Clarke, C Hickey; E Harkin, J Keane, O Martin; L Byrne, C McBride; M Costello (0-1, 1f), C Swaine, D McGowan (0-1, 1f); J Morris (0-1), C Aherne, L Mitchell (0-2, 2f). Subs: S Bannon for Clarke (Black Card 22); A Lynch (0-2, 1f) for McBride (HT); D Dixon for Swaine (HT); C Finnegan for Mitchell (HT); L Kelly for Martin (42).