Kildare 1-16
Meath 1-11

Meath minor footballers suffered their second defeat in the group stages of the Leinster MFC against a well organised Kildare side in perfect conditions at Fr. McManus Park Skryne. PHOTOS

Milo Stafford had the home side on the scoreboard after 90-seconds and Meath then fluffed what seemed like an easy goal chance before Kildare responded in style with white flags from Jack Reilly and Logan Tennyson. The Lilywhites’ impressive full forward Greg Kelly landed the game’s first two pointer to put the visitors 0-4 to 0-1 ahead. The Royals responded with a Thomas Dillon point and minutes later Milo Stafford had the game all square with an excellent two pointer.

From there on the visitors began to exert their dominance around the middle third as they attacked Meath on the flanks. Eoghan Lyons, Kelly, Paidi Ryan and Tennyson pointed before Tennyson found the back of the Meath net with a well worked goal. Reilly and the outstanding Liam Mescal added to their tally and Kildare went in at the break 1-10 to 0-7 in front.

Lyons and Stafford traded points early in the second half and by the end of the third quarter Kildare held a seven point advantage. Meath needed a spark and half forward Conn Brennan provided it. The St. Ultans man sent over a fine point before racing through the Kildare defence for a brilliant solo effort goal to cut the lead to three. 

Kildare responded in fine style. Kelly and Reilly landed the match-winning two two-pointers, extinguishing any hope of a Meath comeback before a late two-pointer from John Killoran closed the gap.

Kildare take on Louth in the last round and the winner will top the group.  Meath must now regroup after two below par displays and can still advance to the preliminary quarter-finals if they get the better of  Laois in Portlaoise next Tuesday.

Kildare: Joe Crotty; Eoin Markey, Ryan Crawford, Liam Mescal 0-1; Fionn Lawlor, Oisin McAfee, Luke Shanahan; Charlie Doran, Paidi Ryan 0-1; Jamie Flood, Aodhan Bergin, Eoghan Lyons 0-2; Jack Reilly 0-4, Greg Kelly 0-5, Logan Tennyson 1-3. Subs: Aidan Tobin, Gearoid Clare, Dillon; Daniels, Eoghan Lyons, Jack Doran

Meath: Cormac Fitzsimons; Ben Browne, Tomas Clarke, Niall Rogan; Liam O’Donoghue, Harry McGuirk, Niall Smyth; Alex Keane, Tomas Proudfoot; Cormac McKenna, Thomas Dillon 0-1, Conn Brennan 1-1; Cormac Walsh 0-1, Milo Stafford 0-5, Dara Loughran 0-1. Subs: John Killoran 0-2 for O’Donoghue, Conor McTigue for Dillon, Harris Moffat for Loughran, Caolan Comey for McKenna, Harry Keating for McGuirk.

Referee: Kevin Williamson (Offaly)

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