Minor footballers progress to Leinster MFL final

Dublin's minor footballers will face Laois next weekend in the Leinster MFL final following their 1-13 to 1-7 semi-final victory over Meath in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Dublin started and finished the game well but found the packed Meath defence difficult to break down while the Royals proved dangerous on the counter-attack and but for the goalkeeping reflexes of Evan Comerford the hosts would have been in a lot more trouble.

Conor Hynes scored Dublin's goal in the fourth minute as Paddy Christie's side made a bright opening.

Points quickly followed from Hynes and Tom Keane following a penetrating run by Aaron Bradshaw for the Dubs to open up a 1-2 to 0-0 lead inside six minutes.

Three minutes later Evan Comerford denied Meath forward Frank O'Reilly from close range. However, the Royals did raise a green flag in the 12th minute when a long delivery broke for Jason Scully who fired to the net.

Dublin responded with a Cormac Howley point at the end of a 50-metre run and a Ross McGarry free made it 1-4 to 1-0 after 16 minutes.

Meath enjoyed their best spell over the next ten minutes as points from Jason Scully, a Frank O'Reilly free, Eanna Mooney and Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch brought the sides level.

But to their credit Dublin reacted before the break with scores form Ross McGarry (two, one free) and Tom Keane which established a 1-7 to 1-4 interval lead.

Twelve minutes into the second half Meath were reduced to 14 men when Frank O'Reilly was dismissed after second yellow card offence.

A Conor Lennon point moved Dublin 1-9 to 1-5 ahead but Meath fired back with points from Jason Scully and sub Conal Aherne to leave two points between the sides, 1-9 to 1-7, entering the last ten minutes.

Dublin slotted the last four points of the match with Mark Donnelly, Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Cormac Howley and keeper Evan Comerford ('45') all splitting the posts.

Laois defeated Kildare 2-9 to 0-12 in the other Leinster MFL semi-final to set up next weekend's decider.