Patchy Royals fall short to Lilywhites

Meath's u-20 campaign was halted by Kildare on Wednesday evening.

Kildare 1-1-18 (23)

Meath 2-3- 9 (21)

The best way to describe Meath’s performance last night in the Leinster u-20 semi-final against Kildare at Newbridge was patchy. The Royals started quickly, but after the first quarter they were largely second-best to their opponents despite some bright spells throughout.

Defensively, Cathal O Bric would probably like another chance to set up the structure as the Royals appeared to get a couple of the match-ups wrong. Down the other end, Meath had an off day and John Harkin’s placed balls kept the Royals in touch.

Meath started quickly but a 12th minute goal for Colin Scanlon seemed to have a more positive effect on the opposition more so than the Royals. Kildare largely dominated the second-quarter and were full value for their two-point advantage at half-time.

A 37th-minute goal brought Meath right back on level terms but they did not have the opportunity to seize momentum as a penalty awarded two minutes later firmly handed the advantage back to the Lilywhites.

Harkin and Cian Commons both contributed two-pointers in the final quarter but Kildare kept the scoreboard ticking and closed out the contest well.

Meath came out of the blocks well and in the 9th minute a Kildare player failed to hand the ball back after a foul. The result was a two-point opportunity for Harkin and he split the posts to put Meath ahead 0-3 to 0-1. Harkin then set up Cormac O’Donoghue for a nice score.

In the 12th minute, a loopy ball into the danger zone from Paul Hennessy ended up in the back of the net as Colin Scanlon rose highest and got the final touch. That seemed to motivate Kildare as a two-pointer and a free from Jimmy Lynch along with a point from Daniel Colbert brought the home side back to within one.

Even though Kildare largely dominated possession, Meath made the most of the opportunities afforded to them and kept their noses in front with points from Harkin, Stephen Cahill and Scanlon. However eventually Kildare took a strong hold on proceedings and between the 25th and 32nd minute scored four points on the spin. Evan Boyle, Liam Kenny, Colbert and Lynch all added to the home side's growing tally and at the break the men in white led 0-12 to 1-7.

After the restart, Colm Moran extended Kildare’s advantage to three before Ben Corkery made a cracking turnover deep in Kildare territory and set up O’Donoghue for a goal which levelled the contest.

However, Kildare hit back almost immediately when Calum Keaveny’s shot on goal was blocked down and the referee stretched his hands out for a penalty caused by a foot block. Lynch dispatched the ball well to the net and after 40 minutes Kildare led 1-14 to 2-8.

The Lilywhites stretched their lead with points from Ruaidhri Lawlor and Kenny before Cahill forced a brilliant save from Kildare net-minder Charlie Carroll. A Kildare breach allowed Harkin the opportunity to slot a two-point free, before wing-back Cormac Smith contributed his customary point.

Kildare kept their tally ticking over with scores from Ronan Kelly and Moran. Harkin kept Meath alive with a two-pointer and a single but Kildare stretched their lead again through Moran and Lynch. A late short-range Commons free was all that the Royals were able to muster in the closing stages as the Meath u-20s journey for 2026 came to an end.

Kildare - Charlie Carroll, Cian McEvitt, Liam Kelly, Senan Gallagher; Calum Keaveny, Finn Dowling, Ben Ryan; Evan Boyle (0-1), Ruaidhri Lawlor (0-1); Daniel Colbert (0-2), Colm Moran (0-4), Jimmy Lynch (1-8 1-0 penalty, one free, one ‘45’, one two-point), Liam Kenny (0-3), Euan Cowzer, Ronan Kelly (0-1 one free). Subs - Harry Redmond for Keaveny, Luke Murray for Cowzer both 45m, Rob Murray for Kenny 50m, Cian Keaveny for Lynch 62m.

Meath - Finn Moore; Cillian Yore, Sam Jordan, Shane Callaghan; Cormac Smith (0-1), Colin Scanlon (1-1), Kyle O’Brien, Michael McIvor, Paul Hennessy; Eoin McCrudden, John Harkin (0-6 two two-point frees, two frees), Stephen Cahill (0-1); Ben Cokery (0-1), Cian Commons (0-4 one two-point), Cormac O’Donoghue (1-1). Subs - Adam Ducie for McIvor 36m, Sean Delaney for McCrudden 41m, Ciaran O’Hare for O’Brien 45m, Pat Crawley for Corkery 50m, Evan Kelly for Scanlon.

Referee - James Foley (Carlow).