TEAM NEWS: Outsiders Meath can push Sky Blues all the way

LEINSTER u-20 FC PREVIEW

One factor in Meath's favour going into the Leinster u-20 FC semi-final against Dublin at Parnell Park this Thursday evening is that they will be considered underdogs. Outsiders. Not rank outsiders, but outsiders nonetheless. Tonight's game will be shown live on TG4 YouTube, just click here.

After all earlier this year the two counties met in the u-20 Development League at Dunganny with Dublin running out winners on a 2-14 to 0-17 scoreline.

In the opening round games in the Leinster championship both teams also experienced contrasting fortunes. While Dublin had a difficult assignment against Westmeath they still emerged victors with a relatively comfortable five-point margin, 1-15 to 1-10.

Meath, on the other hand, were somewhat fortunate to get past Longford. Going into the closing minutes they trailed and had to rely on a Pearse Sheridan point to level matters before Daragh O'Reilly popped over the winning point in injury time. Yet, the fact that the Royals had to dig deep and work hard to carve out a victory might be just the kind preparation they needed ahead of the Dublin test.

Underdogs is a billing Meath manager John McCarthy will not be too unhappy about but he also knows his team will have to up their standard of performance a few notches from the Longford match if they are to down the Sky Blues.

Dublin looked ordinary in the opening half against Westmeath but they were brilliant after the interval.

Meath's biggest challenge will be securing enough ball around midfield to ensure forwards such as Ruairi Kinsella, Niall Finnerty, Diarmuid Moriarty and Eoghan Frayne have the kind of ammunition they will need to shoot-down their opponents.

Meath's defence can also be certain of a very busy evening as Dublin have sharpshooters such as Liam Breathnach and Ryan O'Dwyer who can make the most of any hesitancy in the Royal rearguard.

Underdogs and outsiders they might be but Meath surely have a decent chance of unseating the Sky Blue favourites this time around.

Meath - Billy Hogan; Mossie Corbett, Liam Kelly, Ciaran McCarrick; Mark Coffey, Josh Carolan, Ciaran Caulfield; Jamie Browne, Conor Gray; Shane Smyth, Diarmuid Moriarty, Sean Emmanuel; Niall Finnerty, Eoghan Frayne, Ruairi Kinsella. Subs - Dean Pluck, Fursey Blake, Adam McDonnell, Evan Quinn, Jack Kinlough, Daragh O'Reilly, Alan Bowden, Pearse Sheridan, David Bell.