Costello handed Meath captain's armband

GAA

Dunshaughlin's Mathew Costello will captain Meath when they begin their Leinster under-20 FC campaign in July, while Seneschalstown's Cathal Hickey will be vice-captain.

Manager Bernard Flynn released his final squad ahead of the start of the championship and includes three members of Andy McEntee's senior panel with Ratoath's Jack Flynn joining Costello and Hickey on the final 40-strong panel.

The bulk of Flynn's under-20 panel is made up of players from the Leinster MFC winning team from 2018 as Meath hope to repeat that victory at the higher age group this year.

The newly appointed Meath manager Flynn and his management, that includes former Mayo Ladies boss Peter Leahy, Kilmacud Crokes manager Robbie Brennan, former Meath players Graham Geraghty, Graham Reilly and Kevin Cahill and former Dublin and Ipswich Town goalkeeper Shane Supple, have been working with an extended panel of over 70 players since just after Christmas, but last weekend Flynn cut the panel as they prepare for the Leinster championship.

"It was a very tough decision making process to cut the panel because every single one of the lads has been unbelieveable. The response to training and the effort they have all put in over the last few months has been phenomenal," said Flynn.

"It was a tough thing to do to cut lads, but we are leaving the door open for them to work with us on a strength and conditioning programme, so this certainly isn't the end of any potential Meath career.

"As I said every one of the players has been immense, so we are really looking forward to the start of the championship now. We know there is no room for error, so we are hoping to hit the ground running," concluded Flynn.

Meath's last success at under-20/21 level came in 2001, while the last, and only, time they enjoyed All-Ireland glory at under-21 level was in 1993.

LEINSTER U-20FC

The first round of the Leinster u-20 FC will be played on Thursday 1st July - Westmeath v Kildare; Longford v Louth; Laois v Wicklow; Wexford v Carlow. The draw for the second round, which will include Meath, will take place on Friday 2nd July.

PANEL

The panel is - Barry Thompson, Sean Coffey (Ballinabrackey); Cian McGlynn (Carnaross); Killian Price (Castletown); Eoin Griffin (Clann na nGael); Niall Smullen (Clonard); Diarmuid Moriarty (Curraha); Killian Hogan, Jamie Browne, Darragh O'Sullivan, Evan Quinn (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Harry O'Higgins (Drumbaragh); Mathew Costello, Luke Mitchell (Dunshaughlin); Adam Kelly, Sean Brennan (Dunderry); Declan Mullen (Kilmainham); Luke Kelly, Oisin McCloskey (Na Fianna); Brian O'Hanlon (Navan O'Mahonys); Oran Mulvaney, Colin Hawdon, Pearse Sheridan (Oldcastle); Jamie O'Hare, Cillian McKenna (Rathkenny); Luke Newe, Jack Flynn (Ratoath); Joey Moore, Simon Rooney, Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown); Aaron Chinchilla (Simonstown); Shane Smyth, Niall Finnerty (Skryne); Jamie O'Shea (Summerhill); Stephen Breen, David Bell (St Colmcille's); Conor Harford (St Vincent's); Conor Quigley (Trim); Conor Farrelly (Walterstown); Oisin Martin (Wolfe Tones).