U20 footballers ready for Leinster duel with Longford

Dublin's under-20 footballers face Longford on Tuesday night in their EirGrid Leinster U20FC quarter-final at Glennon Bros Pearse Park (7.30).

Ballyboden St Enda's Kieran Kennedy (pictured above) and Na Fianna's James Doran will be joint-captains.

The other quarter-finals, also on Tuesday night, will see Meath host Offaly in Navan, Louth play Wexford in Drogheda and Westmeath face Laois in Mullingar.

There were three first-round games with the following outcomes - Laois toppled Kildare 0-17 to 1-11 in Newbridge, Offaly outclassed Carlow 3-22 to 2-4 in Cullen Park, Carlow and Wexford overcame Wicklow 1-14 to 2-7 in Bellefield, Enniscorthy.

Last year Dublin's U20 footballers defeated Longford in Championship action (2-21 to 0-11), Westmeath (2-16 to 1-13) and Wexford (1-15 to 1-11) in Group 1 then they overcame Meath (4-16 to 2-10) in the Leinster semi-final before losing to eventual All-Ireland champions Kildare (1-15 to 0-10) in the provincial final.

Players who are again underage this year such as David O'Hanlon, Kieran Kennedy, Neil Matthews, Eoin O'Dea, Donal Ryan, James Doran, Michael Mullin, Ciarán Archer, Karl Lynch Bissett, Seán Farrelly, Ross McGarry and Daniel Brennan enjoyed championship game-time during last year's championship while James Madden would also be eligible this year but signed an extension to his Australian Football League contract with Brisbane Lions earlier this year.

Dublin prepared for the U20 Championship by playing in the recent John Kerins Cup (U20 Football Development League) where they were grouped with Galway, Cork, Kerry and Kildare.

The Dubs finished in third spot behind winners, unbeaten Galway, and second-placed Cork (Kerry and Kildare did not fulfil their concluding fixture against each other).

In their opening game Tom Gray's side enjoyed a 2-14 to 0-14 victory over Kildare in St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.

Goals were crucial with Dublin bolting out of the blocks to build up a 2-8 to 0-2 lead inside the opening 22 minutes. Early points from Niall O'Leary and two from Ciarán Archer settled Dublin immediately with Kilmacud Crokes man O'Leary scoring Dublin's first goal in the eight minute to give his side a 1-5 to 0-0 lead.

Kildare replied with points from Luke Griffin and Eoghan McGlinchey before Dublin assumed control again to reel off 1-3 without reply between the 16th and 22nd minute.

Ciarán Archer, who finished as Dublin's top scorer with 1-6 (1-4 from play), grabbed the second goal as Dublin moved 12 points clear.

In their second game Dublin had to show great battling ability to earn a draw with Cork (1-18 each) in the Laois GAA Centre of Excellence, Portlaoise.

The Rebels opened up a three-point lead going into the last ten minutes at which stage Dublin had been reduced to 13 men but the boys in blue battled to the finish with points from James Doran and Brian O'Leary (two) securing a share of the spoils.

The Dubs were then edged out by Kerry (1-7 to 0-7) in Claughaun GAA, Limerick in their third game.

The only goal of a contest played in a very tricky crossfield wind came in first half injury-time when Kerry full-forward Eddie Hogan won a long delivery into the danger area before firing past Dave O'Hanlon.

The Dubs had battled with good spirit in the opening half after being reduced to 14 men in the 14th minute when Harry Ladd was red-carded.

Dublin concluded their John Kerins Cup campaign with a disappointing 2-17 to 1-7 loss to a very impressive Galway in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe.

Longford played in another of the U20 Football Development Leagues when they competed in the Philly McGuinness Cup where they defeated Leitrim (3-14 to 2-11) in their opening game before suffered narrow defeats to both Sligo (1-12 to 0-13) and Fermanagh (0-11 to 1-7).

This coming Saturday Dublin's minor footballers face Kildare in the Electric Ireland Leinster MFC final in Pairc Tailteann, Navan (2.0).