Minor hurlers progress to Leinster semi-finals

Wed, 14th July 2021

ELECTRIC IRELAND LEINSTER MHC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 4-18 MEATH 1-6

Dublin powered their way into the Leinster MHC semi-finals following this 21-point victory over Meath in Páirc Tailteann, Navan on Wednesday night.

Despite the concession of a seventh minute goal (a penalty) the young Dubs improved after a slow start to book their spot in the provincial last four where they will face Wexford (2-18 to 3-10 victors over Kildare in their quarter-final).

Meath led by two points, 1-2 to 0-3, after ten minutes of the opening half but Dublin then scored 1-6 without reply and the first two points on the restart to firmly establish themselves in the driving seat.

In the concluding quarter following the second water break Dublin hit three goals to embellish their scoring return.

Dennis McSweeney was chief marksman for Dublin, tallying 2-8 (0-5f, 0-1 '65') with Callum Walsh and Conor Brennan hitting the other goals.

Dublin got on top approaching the first water break and a stream of 1-6 without reply had them 1-9 to 1-2 ahead at half-time.

The opening exchanges were balanced with Ronan Conheady opening the scoring for Meath in the second minute.

Dublin edged ahead with points from Conn Rock and Dennis McSweeney before Joe Ennis converted a penalty in the seventh minute to give the hosts a 1-1 to 0-2 advantage.

Dublin's Leon Kennedy and Meath's Denis Darby exchanged points before the young Dubs gained the upperhand.

In the 13th minute Callum Walsh finished clinicially to the Meath net and between and the interval Dublin added six points with Dennis McSweeney hitting four frees, Conn Rock adding his second and Diarmaid O Dúlaing another.

Dennis McSweeney and Leon Kennedy added further scores on the restart to extend Dublin's run of scores to 1-8 without reply.

By the second water stoppage Dublin were 1-13 to 1-5 before two goals in the last quarter from Dennis McSweeney, the first after the sliotar came back off an upright, and another goal from Conor Brennan, again the sliotar rebounding off an upright, saw Dublin cruise to victory.

SCORERS – Dublin: D McSweeney 2-8 (0-5f, 0-1 ‘65'), C Brennan, C Walsh 1-0 each, D O Dulaing 0-3, C Rock, E Keys, L Kennedy 0-2 each, N Hogan 0-1. Meath: J Ennis 1-2 (1-0 pen, 2f), T Shine 0-2, D Darby, R Conheady 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: F Boyd; R Daly, B McGuire, S McDonald; J Behan, D Lucey, E Keys; B Gaughran, L Garrigan; C Rock, C O Riain, D McSweeney; D O Dulaing, C Walsh, L Kennedy. Subs: C Brennan for Walsh (35), N Hogan for O Riain (39), J Kinnane for Gaughran (56), J Kennedy for Daly (59), O Johnston for McSweeney (59).

MEATH: B Mather; E O’Reilly, D Shine, K Douglas; D Rohan, P Connolly, P Barnwell; D Rogers, D Horan; S Corbett, T Shine, D Darby; R Conheady, L Coogan, J Ennis. Subs: L Corbett for Douglas (25), J Connolly for Horan (ht), L Byrne for Conheady (ht), C Gilsenan for P Connolly (47), T Gaughan for Darby (57).

REF: K Brady (Louth).

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2021 Electric Ireland Leinster MHC

Round 1

30 June Down 2-11 Antrim 2-17 St Patrick's Park

30 June Carlow 1-9 Kildare 2-23 Netwatch Cullen Park

1 July Westmeath 0-18 Meath 2-16 TEG Cusack Park

Round 2

7 July Meath wo Antrim scr

7 July Kildare 2-16 Laois 0-15 St Conleth's Park, Newbridge

Quarter-finals

14 July Kildare 3-10 Wexford 2-18 St Conleth's Park, Newbridge