Royals slip up in Parnell Park

LEINSTER U-20 FC Meath settle for quarter-final place as Dublin advance to last four

Meath were left to rue eight first-half wides as they came up three points short, 1-7 to 0-13, in this Leinster u-20 FC game, against a more economical Dublin side at Parnell Park this evening, writes David Sheehan.

Defeat for Meath, who won the All-Ireland MFC title three years ago, leaves them facing a provincial quarter-final against Laois in O'Moore Park next Tuesday night, while Dublin march directly into the last four.

The visitors started brighter, putting pressure on the Dublin kick-outs, but they missed a couple of early chances before the hosts opened the scoring on five minutes through wing-forward Clyde Burke.

A fine left-footed effort from Rian Stafford leveled things a minute later, but three successive points from Dublin had them 0-4 to 0-1 to the good with a quarter of the game gone.

However, spurred on by wing-backs Eamon Armstrong and Killian Smyth, Meath roared back into the game. First, John Harkin curled over a beauty after taking a short '45' from Jamie Murphy, then Murphy himself tapped over a close-range free to make it a one-point game, 0-3 to 0-4, with 20 minutes gone.

However, Dublin finished the half with two successive scores from Burke and a Paul Reynolds-Hand free from 13 metres to leave three between them at the interval, 0-6 to 0-3.

The second-half started in ideal fashion for the Royals, with Charlie O'Connor fisting Cian Commons' shot from distance to the net to level the scores. Sadly, O'Connor had to retire soon after due to injury.

Once again though, Dublin responded impressively. A free from 13 metres from Joe Quigley was followed by two sublime efforts from distance off the ground from Reynolds-Hand, who seems to have his fellow St Vincent's clubman Mossy Quinn's knack for free-taking.

Meath refused to wilt however, and Commons - who was clearly earmarked as the dangerman by Dublin's management - set up Rian McConnell for a left-footed effort to make it 1-4 to 0-9 with 41 minutes on the clock.

Again Dublin responded with two scores in succession before McConnell landed the point of the night from 45 metres. It was a score that even drew applause from the Dublin fans in the crowd.

That effort gave Meath renewed belief and two points in-a-row from the outstanding Armstrong and Hughie Corcoran (free) brought it back to the minimum to set up a cliffhanger of a finish.

Dublin - as they had done all evening - simply refocused and held their nerve to land the final two points of the game to win by three.

Meath will be frustrated by their first-half wastefulness, but outstanding performances from the likes of Seán O'Hare, Armstrong, Killian Smyth and McConnell will give them plenty of reason to believe they will have a big say in this Leinster championship yet, starting with Laois in the quarter-final next Tuesday.

Dublin - David Leonard; Seán Kirwan, Finn Bruton, Evan Nugent; Jamie Smith, Greg McEneaney (0-3), Matthew Gardiner; Charlie McMorrow, Dan Murphy; Clyde Burke (0-2), Paul Reynolds-Hand (0-3 frees), Luke O’Boyle (0-1); Mark McNally, Jamie McCarville (0-2), Karl Flynn. Subs - Joe Quigley (0-2 one mark) for Flynn half-time, Paddy Kelly for Reynolds-Hand 54m, Senan Ryan for Burke 54m, Dylan Kettle for McCarville 58m, James Brady for Smith 61m.

Meath - Oisín McDermott; Brian O’Halloran, Seán O’Hare, Liam Kelly; Eamon Armstrong (0-1), John O’Regan, Killian Smyth; Jack Kinlough, Charlie O’Connor (1-0); Rian Stafford (0-1),John Harkin (0-1), Conor Duke; Jamie Murphy (0-1 free), Cian Commons, Rian McConnell (0-2). Subs - Hughie Corcoran (0-1 free) for Murphy 37m, Tadgh Martyn for O'Connor 40m, Josh Harford for Harkin 46m, Shaun Leonard for Stafford 53m, Conor Ennis for Smyth 57m.

Referee - Enda Kelly (Westmeath).