Meath 2-14 Dublin 2-8

Meath left it late to book their place in the Leinster Minor Football Championship final against Kildare with six points to spare over Dublin at Parnell Park.

Before the game started there was a minutes silence in memory of the late Patsy Farrell (Kilbride).

Dublin played with the wind and made a great start with a two pointer free from centre back James McCagey.

Dara Loughran had the first chance of a goal but his shot was saved at the expense of a 45. Milo Stafford put the Royals on the scoreboard from the resulting placed ball.

Stafford doubled his tally on the 12th minute but the home side opened up a four point lead minutes later when Pat Cahill was on hand to finish to the Meath net.

The visitors replied with a goal of their own when Stafford converted a penalty after a foul on Loughran. Trevor Giles’ men were in front for the first time in the game three minutes later with a goal from Cormac McKenna. Conn Brennan came to the fore in the closing minutes with a brace of points and Meath went to the dressing room with a deserved 2-4 to 1-3 lead. 

The margin was back to one in the opening ten minutes of the second half with points from Mo Salami, Max Morrison and McCagey. Brennan got a much needed score for Meath with his third on 41 minutes. Captain Harry McGuirk steadied the Meath ship with their second score of the half with ten minutes remaining.

Dublin were in front soon after with a well worked goal finished by Eoghan Madden. Substitute Thomas McKeever had the sides level with seven minutes remaining. McGuirk put daylight between the teams with an excellent two pointer. Stafford and Cahill traded scores before the Kilmainhamwood man put three points between the teams. Substitute Leo Kavanagh, Loughran and McKenna added the insurance points in injury time and Meath were on their way to their first Provincial final since 2021.

Meath take on Kildare who beat louth 1-11 to 0-10 in the Leinster Final on Friday 22nd.

Meath scorers: Milo Stafford 1-4, Cormac McKenna 1-1, Conn Brennan 0-3, Harry McGuirk 0-3, Tomas McKeever 0-1, Leo Kavanagh 0-1, Dara Loughran 0-1

Dublin scorers: Pat Cahill 1-2, Eoghan Madden 1-1, James McCaghy 0-3, Mo S alami 0-1, Max Morrison 0-1

Referee: Stephen Fagan

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