U20 footballers ready to open Leinster campaign

Dublin's U20 footballers begin their EirGrid Leinster U20FC campaign when they face Longford away in Pearse Park (7.0) this Monday evening.

The young Dubs have been pooled in Group 1 with Westmeath and Wexford also in this the inaugural year of the competition.

Last year Dublin captured the All-Ireland U21FC in the last year of its playing at U21 level and three players who are eligible for this year's U20 panel got Championship experience - Evan Comerford, Dan O'Brien and Seán Bugler.

Comerford and O'Brien started in the All-Ireland U21 final victory over Galway while Bugler had featured earlier in the campaign before suffering injury in the Leinster final victory over Offaly.

Three other players, eligible again this year, were members of the panel - Aaron Bradshaw, Cormac Howley and Aaron Duffy.

Last year the Dublin minors captured the Leinster MFC title when defeating Meath, in dramatic fashion after extra-time after trailing by ten points early in the second half of normal time, Longford, Kildare and Louth.

They then overcame Clare in the All-Ireland MFC quarter-final before bowing out to Derry (0-17 to 0-14) with James Doran scoring 0-6 from play.

At the end of the year Dublin had two players selected in the Team of the Year - Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne and Ross McGarry. Cuala clubman O Cofaigh Byrne is sitting his Leaving Cert this year and is not part of the U21 panel.

“Naturally, getting off to a good start is very important to us as the competition is run off very quickly and it’s nice to build up some momentum,” says Dublin U20 manager Tom Gray, who last year's managed the minors.

“The format of the championship is such that making the most of the panel is vital, especially with the games coming thick and fast. That’s part and parcel of this championship but ultimately, we’re just really looking forward to getting up and running.

“We also have players who won an All-Ireland under-21 medal last year, so we are happy with what we have available to us.

“The preparations have gone well and overall we are in good shape, despite a few niggles here and there."

The top two teams in each Group advance to the provincial knockout stages (quarter-finals, June 22/23) with the winners of the Group progressing straight to the Leinster semi-finals (June 30), final (July 7).

MONDAY (7.0)

LEINSTER U20FC

Pearse Park, Longford: Longford v Dublin, N Ward (Westmeath); Cusack Park, Mullingar: Westmeath v Wexford, P Maguire (Longford); St Conleth's Park, Newbridge: Kildare v Laois, B Tiernan (Dublin); Joule Park, Aughrim: Wicklow v Meath, J Hickey (Carlow); Cullen Park, Carlow: Carlow v Offaly, D Sheppard (Dublin)

Dublin U20 footballers Group 1 schedule - Monday, May 28: Longford v Dublin, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 7.0: Monday, June 4: DubIlin v Westmeath, Parnell Park, 2.0; Saturday, June 16: Wexford v Dublin, Innovate Wexford Park, 2.0.

2018 EirGrid Leinster U20FC

GROUP REGULATION: - If two teams tie for qualifying positions – the outcome of the game between them decides otherwise score difference.
- If three or more teams tie for Qualifying positions – score difference will decide