Kildare U20s crash out to Meath
2023 Leinster and All-Ireland champions give way to The Royals
Kildare crashed out of the Leinster U20 Football Championship following a five point defeat at the hands of Meath at Manguard Park, Hawkfield this evening.
It was a goal with the last move of the half that gave Meath the lead with wing back Eamon Armstrong firing to the net and then on the resumption, the first move of second half saw corner back, Sean O'Hare put The Royals firmly in control with another well taken goal.
It was Meath who looked the more dangerous in the first half despite playing against the breeze they led 0-4 to 0-1 after fifteen minutes.
But Kildare worked their way into the game with points from Ryan Sinkey (f), Killian Browne (2) and Colm Dalton that saw them take the lead.
Hughie Corcoran (free) leveled before Meath got that vital goal just on the break. And when the second Meath goal arrived within seconds of the restart the visitors were in the driving seat.
Colm Dalton and Mark Gibbons reduced the deficit and while Joey Cummingham and Eoin Cully raised two more white flags for Kildare, it was Meath who prevailed, and deservedly so, with points from Jamie Murphy,Conor Duke and Killian Smyth to set up a meeting with Louth in the final, the Wee County boys defeating Dublin this evening in Parnell ark,
Final score: Meath 2-9 Kildare 0-10.
Scorers: Meath, Sean O'Hare 1-0, Emon Aermstrong 1-0, Jamie Murphy 0-4 (1 free), Hughie Corcoran 0-3 (2 frees), Killian Smyth 0-1, Conor Duke 0-1.
Kildare, Killian Browne 0-2, Ryan Sinkey 0-2 (1 free), Colm Dalton 0-2, Mak Gibbons 0-1, Joey Cunningham 0-1, Eoin Cully 0-1, Fionn Cooke 0-1.
MEATH Oisin McDermott; Conor Ennis, Liam Kelly cpt., Sean O'Hare; Eamon Armstrong, Rian Stafford , Killian Smyth; Jack Kinlough, Charlie O'Connor; Shaun Leonard, John Harkin, Conor Duke; Hughie Corcoran, Jamie Murphy, Rian McConnell. Subs: Sean Emmanuel for Shaun Leonard (47 minutes); Tadhg Martin for Sean O'Hare (51 minutes); John Harkin for Hughie Corcoran (58 minutes); Seimi Byrne for Conor Ennis (62 minutes).
KILDARE: Eoin Sheehan (Johnstownbridge); Rob Fitzgerald (Naas), Eoin Lawlor (Naas), Ethan Mountaine (Sarsfields); Oisin Grufferty (St Laurence's), James Harris (Castlemitchell), Colm Dalton (Sallins); Dara Crowley (Raheens), Fionn Cooke (Raheens); Killian Browne (Celbridge), Niall Dolan cpt (Raheens), Mark Gibbons (Kilcock); Ryan Sinkey (Naas), Ross Harris (Castlemitchell), Sam Savage (Rathangan). Subs: Ben Ryan (Round Towers) for Robert Fitzgerald (47 minutes); Eoin Cully (Carbury) for Sam Savage (47 minutes); Joey Cunningham (Allenwood) for Killian browne (51 minutes); Niall Cramer (Raheens) for Ethan Mountaine (54 minutes); Ben Loakman (Sarsfields) for Mark Gibbons (57 minutes).
REFEREE: Anthony Nolan, Wicklow.