MATCH REPORT: Dublin & Meath end all square as attention now turns to U20 Leinster Final

Leinster U20 Development Competition.

Dublin 3-07 (16) Meath 1-13 (16)

Both teams came into Thursday’s game with the knowledge that they would be meeting again the following week in the Leinster final having each registered victories in previous rounds over Kildare and Offaly to qualify for the 2025 decider.

To their credit both sets of players produced a high paced entertaining game of football with the large crowd of spectators present totally getting full value for their money.

Dublin lead at the break having bagged two first half goals courtesy of Sarah Condron and Cáit Phelan while the expert free taking skills of Meath full forward Ellie Murphy kept the royals in touching distance of their opponents. HT Dublin 2-03 (9) Meath 0-08 (8).

The second half saw both sets of management teams emptying their benches giving valuable game time to their respective panellists.  The introduction of several players did not affect the standard of play or indeed the pace of the game.

Dublin keeper Kadie Martin pulled off a number of saves to deny Meath a goal however her luck ran out in the 26th minute when Orlaith Reilly found the back of the net to bring the Royals level on the scoreboard with the Dubs. Game on as they say!

The visitors struggled to get the ball out of their back line owing to a high press on the Dublin kick out by the Meath forwards. The Royals pressure paid off when they were award a free kick and an opportunity to take the lead with 32 minutes gone on the clock. Aideen Reilly duly slotted the free kick over the bar. Meath now were now ahead by one.

Dublin worked the ball up the field despite coming under severe Meath pressure. The Dubs managed to draw a foul and a subsequent free with the game now deep into injury time. Up stepped Kate Watson from Erin's Isle. She coolly kicked the free and scored the point to level the game despite the pressure and noise coming from the home supporters. FT Dublin 3-07 Meath 1-13.

So it is all set up nicely now for an exciting rematch next Thursday (July 31st) when the two Counties meet again in the Leinster final, Kilcock 7.30pm. A game not to be missed.

Dublin U20: Ava Canty (Fingallians); Niamh Redmond (Thomas Davis), Naomi Weakliam (O’Dwyers), Saoirse Delaney (Erins Isle); Ella O’Dell (Templeogue Synge St), Amy Clavin (St Brigid’s) captain, Andrea Walsh (St Patrick’s Donabate); Aoíbh Doyle (Clann Mhuire), Ellie Doyle (St Sylvester’s); Cáit Phelan (Beann Eadair), Elsa Kearney (O’Dwyers), Ava Peake (Raheny); Alex Smyth (Ballyboughal), Sarah Condron (St Brigid’s), Amber McCloskey (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh).

Dublin scorers: Elsa Kearney 1-01, Ava Peake 0-03 (2f), Sarah Condron 1-00, Cáit Phelan 1-00, Neala Byrne 0-01, Kate O’Toole 0-01, Kate Watson 0-01 (1f)

Dublin subs: Kadie Martin for Ava Canty, Kate Watson for Alex Smyth, Neala Byrne for Amber McCloskey, Iseult Costello for Saoirse Delaney, Kate O’Toole for Andrea Walsh, Amber McCloskey for Ellie Doyle.

Dublin panel: Sophia O’Brien (Na Fianna), Aoife Robertson (Round Tower Clondalkin), Heather Bolger (Ballyboden St Endas), Líadan Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes), Brosna O’Dell (Templeogue Synge St), Siobhán Cassidy Fagan (St Sylvester’s), Chloe Bryan (St Sylvesters).

Meath U20: Méabh McCarrick, Anna Gardiner, Emma Lync, Emily McCann, Isabel Thorp, Sarah Caulfield, Lucy Reynolds, Kamile Butvilaite, Sinead Murphy, Shauna Fox, Róisín McManus, Sarah Jane Lyons, Amy Smullen, Ellie Murphy, Adetola Akinboboye.

Meath scorers: Ellie Murphy 0-05 (5f), Orlaith Reilly 1-00, Amy Smullen 0-02, Sarah Jane Lyons, Róisín McManus, Isabel Thorp, Adetola Akinboboye, Mia Brady, Aideen Reilly 0-01 each.

Meath subs: Orlaith Reilly for Amy Smullen, Ciara Doherty for Róisín McManus, Mia Brady for Lucy Reynolds, Elena Kennedy for Kamile Butvilaite, Serena Gavin for Isabel Thorp, Aideen Reilly for Adetola Akinboboye, Éabha Magee for Mia Brady, Aoibheann Shortt for Sinead Murphy.

Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Laois)