MEATH… 2-09
KILDARE… 0-10
Goals either side of half time from Eamonn Armstrong and Sean O’Hare propelled Meath past the outgoing All Ireland U-20 champions and into a first Leinster Final at the grade in a decade.
This was an accomplished performance throughout in Hawkfield (Newbridge) from Cathal O’Bric’s team, despite the Meath boss being forced into three late changes before throw in.
Senior panelist Brian O’Halloran and the duo from last year’s Minor setup, John Harkin and Cian Commons all missing out. With them being replaced by Conor Ennis, Rian Stafford and Hughie Corcoran respectively.
The alterations meant that Corcoran went to his regular spot at top of the right with Jamie Murphy moving over to the edge of the square. The latter duo accounting for Meath’s first five scores between them before that crazy spell either side of half time which ultimately decided the outcome.
Firstly, there appeared to be mass confusion over a Kildare point, with one umpire flagging it a score, the other waving it wide and referee Anthony Nolan taking a few seconds before chalking it down.
That gave the locals the lead (0-06 to 0-05) as half time beckoned, and even at that Meath would’ve been happy enough with their lot at that stage. But it got even better for them.
Firstly in the shape of Eamon Armstrong, well, doing Eamon Armstrong things. Using his seering pace to stop the flour bag defence from self raising before dispatching a classy finish to the all white onion bag.
Then, as if all that wasn’t boon enough, straight from the restart, thoughts turned to a former Aintree Grand National winner Red Marauder as Rathkenny’s Sean O’Hare turned out to be the most unlikely of smiling assassins for the green and gold.
He gathered possession and ran, and ran, and ran before blasting to the Kildare net. Thus, turning a one point deficit into a five point lead.
Now, essentially, that was the winning of the game for Meath, points following from Killian Smyth, Conor Duke and the outstanding Hughie Corcoran. However, the security of their position was only possible due to the gargantuan defencive efforts of Oisin McDermott, Conor Ennis, Liam Kelly and O’Hare in the closing stages.
SCORERS – J. Murphy (0-4, 1F),S. O’Hare and E. Armstrong (1-0 each), H. Corcoran (0-3), K. Smyth and C. Duke (0-1 each).
MEATH – O. McDermott; C. Ennis, L. Kelly, S. O’Hare; E. Armstrong, J. O’Regan, K. Smyth; J. Kinlough, C. O’Connor; S. Leonard, R. Stafford, C. Duke; H. Corcoran, J. Murphy, R. McConnell.
SUBS – S. Emannuel for Leonard, T. Martyn for Stafford, J. Harkin for Corcoran, S. Byrne for Ennis.
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)
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