Dublin and Kildare qualified directly for the Leinster U20FC semi-finals following wins over Meath and Louth respectively last night.

A dominant third quarter, during which Paul Reynolds Hand, Joe Quigley, Luke O'Boyle and Jamie McCarville slotted six unanswered points, helped Dublin to a 0-13 to 1-7 Group 3 win over Meath at Parnell Park.

All-Ireland minor champions three years ago, Meath were left to rue eight first half wides after the hosts took a 0-6 to 0-3 lead into the break. The Royals regained parity with a goal from Charlie O'Connor three minutes after the restart, but Dublin then hit a purple patch which propelled them to victory. 

The defeat means Meath have to settle for a quarter-final meeting with Laois who overpowered Wicklow 2-12 to 0-6 in Group 2 thanks to goals in either half from Cillian Maher and Cathal Lee.

All-Ireland champions Kildare bounced back from their shock defeat to Offaly to edge out Louth 2-6 to 0-11 and finish top of Group 1 on the head-to-head rule. The Lilywhites had to withstand a strong second half fightback by the Wee County after goals from Sam Savage and Oisín Grufferty had eased them into a 2-4 to 0-2 half-time lead. Louth will now face Wicklow in the quarter-finals.

Longford beat Offaly 0-10 to 0-9 in the other Group 1 fixture at Newtownforbes, but both teams drop to the new 'B' Championship.

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