The Leinster U-15 Football Blitz took place, Saturday, 26 April at various venues. Meath, Dublin, Kildare and Louth played at Ardee. Panel of 30 players per team, 3 x 60 minute games, each team playing each other and unlimited substitution Meath panel for the blitz was: Alan Nestor, (Blackhall Gaels) Andreas Ó Cinnéide, (Blackhall Gaels) Jonathan Ginnity, (Castletown) Donal McCarthy, (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) Ciaran Finn, (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) Shane Geraghty, (Na Fianna) Sean Keating, (O'Mahony's) James Power, (O'Mahony's) Conor O'Brien, (Ratoath) Gavin Butler, (Round Towers) Colm Carry, (Round Towers) Darren Morgan, (Round Towers) Shane O'Rourke, (Simonstown Gaels) Shane Carr, (Simonstown Gaels) Peter Toolin, (Skryne) Ronan McCabe, (Skryne) Stephen Nolan, (St Cianan's) Darren Mallon, (St Cuthbert's/Bohermeen) Brian McKeown, (St Martin's) Eoin McDonnell, (St Michael's) James Moffatt, (St Peter's) Sean Mallon, (St Vincent's/Curraha) David Dalton, (Summerhill) Brian Hatton, (Summerhill) Vincent Farrelly, (Trim) Brian McKeever, (Trim) Conor O'Sullivan, (Walterstown) Cathal Hanley, (Walterstown) Stephen Sheppard, (Wolfe Tones) Graham Crosbie, (Yellow Furze) Round 1 Meath 1-8 Kildare 1-6 A Donal McCarthy goal regained the lead for Meath midway through the first half to leave it 1-2 to 0-3 on which they built their victory over Kildare. Further points by Stephen Sheppard, Shane O'Rourke and Sean Keating gave Meath a half time lead of 1-5 to 0-3. Playing against the wind in the second half, Meath's defence held out against determined Kildare attacks to finish with victory for Meath by 2 points. Scorers for Meath: Shane O'Rourke (0-4), Donal McCarthy (1-0), Brian Hatton (0-2), Stephen Sheppard (0-1) and Sean Keating (0-1) Meath's starting 15: James Ginnity, Ronan McCabe, Brian McKeever, Andreas Ó Cinnéide, Ciaran Finn, Gavin Butler, James Power, Shane O'Rourke, Stephen Sheppard, Darren Mallon, Graham Crosbie, Sean Keating, Conor O'Brien, Donal McCarthy, David Dalton Round 2 Meath 2-8 Louth 0-4 In round 2, Meath renewed rivalry with Louth and it was Louth who settled early and a close battle seemed on, but goals by Eoin McDonnell and Sean Mallon changed that. H/T Meath 2-3 Louth 0-3 Great goal keeping by Shane Geraghty kept Louth's second half tally limited to one point, with Meath adding a further 5 points to run out easy winners. Scorers for Meath: Eoin McDonnald (1-0), Sean Mallon (1-1), James Power (0-2), Conor O'Sullivan (0-2), Alan Nestor (0-1) Shane O'Rourke (0-1), Donal McCarthy (0-1 Meath's starting 15: James Ginnity, Ronan McCabe, Brian McKeever, James Moffatt, Graham Crosbie, Gavin Butler, Shane Carr, Stephen Sheppard, Brian Hatton, Eoin McDonnell, James Power, Donal McCarthy, Sean Mallon, Vincent Farrelly, David Dalton, Round 3 Meath 4-14 Dublin 5-4 This turned out to be the final of the Blitz with both teams coming in undefeated, but Meath having a marginal score difference advantage over rivals, Dublin. Meath's Shane O'Rourke opened the scoring with a point, but then it looked as if Dublin were going to runaway with it by scoring 2-2 against the elements to give them a 7 point lead. Sean Mallon netted to start Meath's fight back and a powerful team display saw Meath adding a further 1-9 to Dublin's only other score of the first half. H/T Meath 2-10 Dublin 3-2 The second half was again played at a hectic pace with terrific tackling and everybody on the field giving their all. Dublin never gave up and reduced the lead to 3 points at one stage. Goals by Sean Keating and Conor O'Brien put Meath well on the road to victory. Dublin got a late goal to reduce the arrears. Overall it was a great display by the whole panel, who certainly have gained a lot from these games played at championship level. The interchange of players never reduced the Meath momentum in any of the games. Best for Meath over the 3 games included Shane O'Rourke, Gavin Butler, Ronan McCabe, Sean Keating, James Power and David Dalton. Tribute has to be made to coach, David Farrelly and his selectors for the great work they have done with the panel. Scorers for Meath: Sean Keating (2-1), Shane O'Rourke (0-5), James Power (0-5), Sean Mallon (1-0), Conor O'Brien (1-0), Donal McCarthy (0-1), Alan Nestor (0-1), Ronan McCabe (0-1) Meath's starting 15: James Ginnity, Ronan McCabe, Gavin Butler, Brian McKeown, Ciaran Finn, Andreas Ó Cinnéide, James Moffatt, Shane O'Rourke, Darren Mallon, Sean Keating, Graham Crosbie, James Power, david Dalton, Donal McCarthy, Sean Mallon Presentation to all competitors were made by Tómas Ó hEochaidh, venue co-ordinator. Meath team captain, Sean Keating, paid tribute to the organisers of the Blitz, St Mary's, Ardee for the facilities and hospitality, and the other teams in the Blitz. Results at the various venues will determine seedings for the Leinster U-15 Summer League Tweet

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