Meath advance to Leinster MFC final

Meath qualified for the Leinster MFC final with a hard-earned 1-15 to 1-11 victory against Louth this afternoon at Pairc Tailteann.

Louth came into this game with victories over Westmeath and Laois to their credit while the Meath players were in action in the provincial championship for the first time.

Four players from the 2020 Leinster MFC-winning team were included in the Meath starting 15 by manager Cathal O Bric who commented post-match that the contribution of that quartet was a key ingredient in the victory.

Meath trailed by 0-7 to 1-6 at the interval after playing with 14 briefly when Paul Wilson was black-carded in the 17th minute.

Meath produced a dominant second-half performance with a goal from Oisin O Murchu a crucial score as was the display from Drumbaragh's Hughie Corcoran who claimed seven points.

Meath also finished with 14 after goalscorer O Murchu was black-carded on the hour ahead of four minutes added time.

SCORERS

Meath - Hughie Corcoran 0-7 two frees; Oisin O Murchu 1-0; Andrew Moore 0-2;Jack Kinlough 0-2; Rian McConnell 0-2 one free; Conor McWeeney 0-1; Paul Wilson 0-1.

Louth - Fionn Cumiskey 1-0; Liam Flynn 0-3 frees; Sean Reynolds 0-2 frees; Oisin Gray 0-1; Kieran McArdle 0-2 one '45'; Dara McDonnell 0-1; Aaron McGlew 0-1; Adam Lambe 0-1.

TEAMS

Meath - Oisin McDermott (Ballinlough); Conor Ennis (Ballinabrackey), Liam Kelly (Ratoath), Brian O'Halloran (Ballivor); Shaun Leonard (St Colmcille's), Tomas Corbett (Ratoath), Killian Smyth (Castletown); Paul Wilson (Donaghmore / Ashbourne), Jack Kinlough (Dunboyne); Andrew Moore (Ballinabrackey), Sean Emmanuel (St Patrick's), Conor McWeeney (Kilbride); Josh Harford (Kilbride), Oisin O Murchu (St Colmcille's), Hughie Corcoran (Drumbaragh). Subs - Rian McConnell (Castletown) for Harford 28 mins, Christian Finlay (St Colmcille's) for McWeeney 50m, Sean O'Regan (Skryne) for Moore 55m, Sean Tyrrell (Donaghmore / Ashbourne) for McConnell 58m, Sean O'Hare (Rathkenny) for O'Halloran 59m.

Louth - Shane Halpenny; Stephem Kerr-Rafferty, Tadhg O'Brien, Daire McDaid; Aaron McGlew, Cameron Maher, Sean Reynolds; Dara McDonnell, James Rogers; Conor McGuirk, Kieran McArdle, Adam Lambe; Fionn Cumiskey, Oisin Gray, Liam Flynn. Subs - Evan Wynne for McGuirk 36 mins, Jack Elvin for Gray 49m.

Referee - Marius Stones (Offaly).

Meath will play Dublin in the final on Monday 2nd August in Tullamore,

Full report and reaction in Tuesday's Meath Chronicle.