U20 Footballers defeat Meath in Navan

DUBLIN 0-14 MEATH 0-10

A strong third quarter display proved pivotal as Dublin advanced to the final of the Leinster Under 20 Football Championship following their four-point success against Meath at Páirc Tailteann on Tuesday evening.

Having played with the stiff breeze in the first-half, the Dubs led by just two points at the break with an injury to key attacker Luke Breathnach causing potential concern to the visitors.

However, Dublin took complete control of matters upon the resumption with the introduction of substitutes Michael McDonald and Séamus Smith having the desired affect as they eased into a final meeting with Kildare in Carlow next Tuesday evening.

It was Meath that settled the better, benefiting from an excellent point by Shaun Leonard inside thirty seconds with Dublin levelling matters soon after through a Ross Keogh free awarded after a foul on Breathnach.

The hosts impressed at centrefield initially and that promise was rewarded through a brace of frees from Eoghan Frayne.

Dublin were forced to work a bit harder for their scores but were back on level terms by the 10^th minute as Breathnach and captain Conor Dolan kicked superb points with the aid of the wind.

Frayne’s third free of the evening edged Meath back in front two minutes later but the hosts were fortunate not to be punished in the 17^th minute as Breathnach was impeded after turning sharply towards goal, the knock forcing his removal from the field.

Darragh Dempsey popped over the resultant free but at the opposite end of the field, a more composed Meath continued to threaten with Conor Gray firing over the crossbar when drifting in behind the Dublin defence.

Substitute Joe Quigley made a strong impact in the closing stages of the half, kicking three points in total, including two frees, and while Jack Kinlough replied with an excellent score for the hosts, Dublin finished the half on a relative high with Dolan adding his second score in added time.

Dublin looked more comfortable playing into the breeze in the second-half although that wasn’t initially reflected on the scoreboard as a brace of Keogh frees were cancelled out by Frayne at the opposite end.

Gradually, Dublin kicked into gear with McDonald providing a strong anchor around the middle third while Smith secured and recycled possession to telling effect.

This allowed Keogh the space to kick a cracking point from play in the 40^th minute and three points on the bounce through Smith, Ethan Dunne and Keogh (free), were just reward for the control they exerted.

Meath never looked likely to come back from this precarious position and while substitutes Con Smith and Hughie Corcoran popped over late scores, Dublin saw out the remainder of the game in relative comfort, with wing-backs Alex Gavin and Dan O’Leary particularly prominent.

Scorers – Dublin: R Keogh 0-5 (4f), J Quigley 0-3 (2f), C Dolan 0-2, L Breathnach, D Dempsey (f), E Dunne, S Smith 0-1 apiece. Meath: E Frayne 0-5 (5f), J Kinlough, C Gray, S Leonard, C Smith, H Corcoran 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: A Smyth; E Nugent, T Clancy, E O’Connor Flanagan; A Gavin, D McGrath, D O’Leary; E Dunne, G McEneaney; C Dolan, L Ward, T Brennan; R Keogh, L Breathnach, D Dempsey. Subs: J Quigley for Breathnach (17), M McDonald for Brennan (half-time), S Smith for O’Connor Flanagan (39), B Costello for Quigley (60).

Meath: B Hogan; L Kelly, B O’Halloran, J Finnerty; K Smyth, B O’Reilly, J O’Regan; J Kinlough, C Gray; L Stafford, E Frayne, C Caulfield; S Leonard, O Keogh, A Bowden. Subs: R Kinsella for Leonard (38), C Smith for Stafford (48), H Corcoran for Kinsella (54), C Ennis for Bowden (54).

Referee: David Hickey (Carlow).