Meath see off Kildare to set up Leinster final showdown with Louth

Two goals in a two-minute spell either side of half-time proved to be decisive as Meath secured their place in the Leinster u-20 FC final with a 2-9 to 0-10 semi-final victory over Kildare at Hawkfield this evening.

Eamon Armstrong struck a stunning goal at the end of a brilliant move with the final kick of the opening half to propel Meath to a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead and two minutes after the resumption Sean O'Hare deceived everyone by firing to the net to stretch Meath's advantage to five points.

Kildare had their moments and Meath were grateful to Liam Kelly, Oisin McDermott and Conor Ennis for some outstanding last ditch defending, but this was a deserved victory for the Royals and sets up a provincial final meeting with Louth next Monday in Parnell Park following the Wee County's win over Dublin.

Even though Kildare had their chances, Meath were very much the better side as they played composed, controlled football and mixed it up with scintillating passages of powerful, pacy play.

Throughout the field Meath had excellent performers. Defensively they stood strong and the defensive game plan worked a treat as Kildare struggled to break them down.

On the counter-attack Armstrong was once again immense, while the work rate of Jack Kinlough and Charlie O'Connor ensured Meath dominated the centre sector.

Jamie Murphy was an outstanding target man inside and with Rian McConnell, Conor Duke, Rian Stafford, Sean Leonard and Hughie Corcoran all working above and beyond the numbers worn on their backs it laid the perfect platform for the win.

The evening didn't start well for the young Royals as Fionn Cooke fired Kildare ahead inside 18 seconds and the hosts squandered a great chance three minutes later to double their advantage when Niall Dolan kicked a simple free wide.

Meath's first attack of note saw Stafford denied by Eoin Sheehan in the Kildare goals and Corcoran's follow up was well blocked.

When Meath did eventually find their scoring touch in the seventh minute they hit three in quick succession with Murphy landing two excellent scores from play and one from a free to make it 0-3 to 0-1.

Corcoran took over free-taking duties after Murphy missed one and the Drumbaragh man made no mistake from close range to stretch Meath's advantage, but then they took their foot off the gas as Kildare found their groove.

Ryan Sinkey and Killian Browne both hit two points each as Kildare edged ahead by the 21st minute, but Corcoran settled Meath again with another free.

Colm Dalton, one of four survivors from the Kildare team that started last year's All-Ireland u-20 FC final against Sligo, kicked his side in front again, but Meath had the last word of the half with Corcoran and Kelly linking up to set up Armstrong for a brilliant goal which gave Meath their interval cushion.

That lead grew to 2-5 to 0-6 two minutes after the restart when great play by Killian Smyth and Armstrong saw the ball worked to O'Hare and as everyone expected the Rathkenny man to pass the ball on he took aim at the goals and slotted it to the net.

Kildare laid siege on the Meath goals in reply. Dolan was denied by McDermott before the ball eventually came out to Dalton to point. Browne thought he had closed the deficit further when the umpire waved the flag after his attempt, but the linesman quickly intervened and correctly advised the referee that the shot had tailed wide.

Mark Gibbons did make it a three-point game in the 43rd minute as Kildare clawed their way back into the contest, but Corcoran settled Meath again with another converted free.

Kildare continued to be a threat and Browne in particular caused problems. The Celbridge man was denied a certain goal by a brilliant block by Kelly and Meath countered two minutes later with a point from Murphy to make it 2-7 to 0-8.

As both sides rang the changes it was Kildare sub Niall Cullen who made an instant impact with a point, but Meath were patient and in control, and replied with a superb score from Duke with seven minutes remaining.

Smyth and Joey Cunningham traded points in 57th minute, but that was as close as Kildare could get as Meath defended superbly and held on comfortably to set up next Monday's final against the Louth.

Meath - Oisín McDermott (Ballinlough); Conor Ennis (Ballinabrackey), Liam Kelly (Ratoath), Sean O’Hare (Rathkenny 1-0); Eamon Armstrong (Duleek-Bellewstown 1-0), John O’Regan (Skryne), Killian Smyth (Castletown 0-1); Jack Kinlough (St Peter's), Charlie O’Connor (Dunshaughlin); Shaun Leonard (St Colmcille's), Rian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood), Conor Duke (Dunshaughlin 0-1); Hughie Corcoran (Drumbaragh 0-3 frees), Jamie Murphy (St Patrick's 0-4 one free), Rian McConnell (Castletown). Subs - Sean Emmanuel (St Patrick's) for Leonard 48m, Tadhg Martyn (Slane) for Stafford 50m, John Harkin (St Peter's) for Corcoran 59m, Seimi Byrne (Seneschalstown) for Ennis 61m.

Kildare - Eoin Sheehan; Rob Fitzgerald, Eoin Lawlor, Ethan Mountaine; Oisin Grufferty, James Harris, Colm Dalton (0-2); Dara Crowley, Fionn Cooke (0-1); Killian Browne (0-2), Niall Dolan, Mark Gibbons (0-1); Ryan Sinkey (0-2 one free), Ross Harris, Sam Savage. Subs - Ben Ryan for Sinkey, Niall Cullen (0-1) for Savage both 48m, Joey Cunningham (0-1) for Browne 50m, Niall Cramer for Mountaine 54m, Ben Loakman for Gibbons 57m.

Referee - Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).