U20 footballers edge out Meath in Leinster semi-final

EIRGRID LEINSTER U20FC SEMI-FINAL

DUBLIN 4-7 MEATH 0-13

Dublin added weight to the adage that 'goals win games' when they overcame Meath in Thursday night's EirGrid Leinster U20FC semi-final at Páirc Tailteann, Navan.

The Dubs progress to face Offaly, who defeated Westmeath in their semi-final, in the provincial final next Thursday in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise (7.30).

Dublin led 1-5 to 0-2 at half-time but both sides were guilty of not turning possession into scores but the hosts held the upperhand for large periods of the second half after Dublin had moved ten points ahead by the 37th minute.

Meath had restarted the second half well with points from Luke Mitchell (free) and Jack Flynn ('45') they also had a goal chance but Colin Hawdon's effort was deflected and cannoned off the crossbar.

Dublin, however, hit two goals in a minute with Luke Swan the fulcrum for both scores, first releasing Mark Lavin who rifled to the net - Adam Rafter having started the move initially with some good defending.

Then the Dublin full-forward put Lorcan O'Dell through on goal and his shot found the roof of the Meath net to make it 3-5 to 0-4 after 37 minutes.

But then Meath totally gained the upperhand as Dublin struggled to secure possession off of their own kickouts and outscored Dublin 0-8 to 0-1 over the course of the next 15 minutes.

During this spell Meath also created a very dangerous position close to the Dublin goal but tenacious corner-back Conor Tyrrell got in a well timed flick to cut out the situation.

Inside the last five minutes Mark Lavin converted an important free for Dublin after a foul on Lorcan O'Dell to make it 3-7 to 0-12 before Meath's Diarmuid Moriarty slotted his fourth point from play.

Heading into added time Dublin keeper Jake Turley made a crucial save to deny Moriarty.

To wrap it up Dublin midfielder Adam Fearon broke forward at pace, his initial goal attempt hit the crossbar but fell nicely for the Skerries Harps' lad to finish to the net.

In the opening half Dublin had the better first quarter and led 1-4 to 0-1 at the water break with the Dublin defence doing well to frustrate their opponents as the likes of Rory Dwyer and Conor Tyrrell launched many attacks from deep in their own half.

The goal came in the eighth minute when Mark Lavin's original effort fell for Luke Swan to apply the finish.

After Mark Lavin had opened Dublin's account inside the opening minute a fine move involving Conor Tyrrell, Lorcan O'Dell, Luke Murphy-Guinane and Luke Swan created a goal chance for Luke Ward but his effort was parried out for a '45' by Meath goalkeeper Seán Brennan.

Fionn Murray converted that '45' to give Dublin a 0-2 to 0-0 lead inside two minutes.

In the sixth minute the powerful Jack Flynn was through on goal for Meath but Dublin full-back Adam Rafter got across to execute a fine block to avert the danger.

Flynn is a member of this year's Meath senior panel but unlike his fellow U20s, Cathal Hickey and Matthew Costello, was eligible as he didn't feature in their SFC victory over Longford.

By the half-time interval Dublin were 1-5 to 0-2 clear after Fionn Murray had converted his second '45'. 

SCORERS - Dublin: M Lavin 1-3 (0-1f), L Swan, L O’Dell, A Fearon 1-0 each, F Murray 0-3 (0-2 45), L Murphy-Guinane 0-1. Meath: L Mitchell 0-6 (0-5f), D Moriarty 0-4, J Flynn 0-2 ( 0-2 45), N Finnerty 0-1.

DUBLIN: J Turley; C Tyrrell, A Rafter, B Millist; R Dwyer, A Waddick, M L'Estrange; M O’Leary, A Fearon; M Lavin, L O’Dell, L Murphy-Guinane; F Murray, L Swan, L Ward. Subs: S Forker for O’Leary (ht), C Chawke for Murphy-Guinane (37), C Walsh for Ward (48), S O’Driscoll for L'Estrange (54), D O’Dowd for Murray (60+4).

MEATH: S Brennan; J O’Hare, H O’Higgins, C Farrelly; C Harford, A Chinchilla, O McCloskey; S Coffey, J Flynn; N Smullen, N Finnerty, L Kelly; B O’Hanlon, P Sheridan, D Moriarty. Subs: L Mitchell for O’Hanlon (22), E Frayne for Smullen (ht), C Hawdon for Kelly (ht), C Quigley for McCloskey (45), C Caulfield for Harford (54).

REF: F Smyth (Offaly).