Longford U-20s find the going too tough against superior Meath side

Meath . . . 0-12      Longford . . . 0-4

Played in extremely difficult conditions at the Newtownforbes venue amid the terrible weather, Longford trailed by 0-8 to 0-2 at the break after playing against the stiff breeze in the first half. 

Jamie Brady Hynes fired over the opening score for the home side in the 6th minute and Matthew Flynn was on target from a tight angle in the 26th minute as the physically stronger Meath team established a firm grip on the game with their scores coming from Eoghan Frayne (0-4, 3f), Oisin Keogh (0-2) and Ciaran Caulfield (0-2). 

Things did not get any better for Longford in the second half and they were fortunate not to concede a goal when a close range shot from Meath corner-forward Ruairi Kinsella hit the post early on the changeover.

Kieran Carey’s charges made poor use of the wind advantage and all they could manage was a couple of scores  from frees converted by Jamie Brady Hynes and Michael Flynn with superior Meath adding four more points to their tally through Kinsella, Keogh and Frayne (2 frees). 

Longford are now facing a must win match against Laois at O’Moore Park on Tuesday night next (March 28) in Round 2 of the group phase to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the U-20 championship.  

LONGFORD: Oisin McManus (Killoe); Darragh Finlass (Ballymahon), Sean Morgan (Longford Slashers), Cian Sutton (Clonguish); Ronan Courtney (Mostrim), Dylan Lynch (Sean Connolly’s), Ross Shields (Clonguish); Ben Lynn (Longford Slashers), Matt Duffy (Dromard); Matthew Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1), Micheal Hynes (Granard), Gavin Farrelly (Killoe); Michael Flynn  (Clonguish, 0-1, free) Jamie Brady Hynes (Granard, 0-2, 1 free), Caolan Lynch (Abbeylara). 

Subs:- Oisin O’Toole (Dromard) for C Lynch (19 mins); Conor Smith (Clonguish) for R Shields (injured, half-time); Padraig Boyle (Ballymore) for R Courtney (37 mins); Josh Sorohan (Clonguish) for Matthew Flynn (46 mins); Diarmuid Farrell (Ardagh Moydow) for B Lynn. 

MEATH: Billy Hogan; Brian O’Halloran, Liam Kelly, John Finnerty; Brian O’Reilly, John O’Regan, Shaun Leonard; Jack Kinough, Conor Gray; Ciaran Caulfield (0-2), Eoghan Frayne (0-6, 5 frees), Liam Stafford; Sean Emmanuel, Oisin Keogh (0-3), Ruairi Kinsella (0-1).

Subs used (all in the second half): Tom Bowden, Oisin McDermott, Ben Moran, Conor Ennis, John McDonagh.  

Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath).