Minor footballers face Meath in Leinster MFC

Tue, 22nd May 2018

Dublin's minor footballers travel to Navan on Wednesday night to face Meath in Páirc Tailteann (7.0) in the Leinster MFC Group 1 round-robin.

Both counties have wins under the belts with the Dubs defeating Louth (3-15 to 1-7) and Meath defeating Westmeath (2-20 to 2-7).

It was a storming closing quarter that saw Dublin's get their Leinster MFC Group 1 off to a winning start at Parnell Park last Monday fortnight.

Louth led by a point with just over 15 minutes remaining but the young Dubs finished the game in a sprint when scoring 3-6 without reply to emerge 14-point victors.

Mark O'Leary, Conor Murray and Liam Dunne grabbed the goals as Dublin suddenly found their scoring touch to leave the Wee County shell-shocked.

The opening half was very evenly balanced with Dublin 0-8 to 0-7 in front at the break following points form Seán Foran, Enda Cashman and Matthew Dunne towards the conclusion of the opening period.

However, eight minutes into the second half Louth corner-back Tom Jackson showed a clinical edge when firing to the Dublin net to put his side 1-7 to 0-9 clear.

But when needed most Dublin had the answers with the influential O'Leary hitting his goal 12 minutes from the end to ignite Dublin's impressive scoring flurry to the finishing line.

Meath surged to victory in the second half of their Leinster SFC opener at Mullingar, after an opening period in which both sides were evenly matched.

The breakthrough arrived on 21 minutes when Cian McBride found the back of the net to push Meath side into a three-point lead.

The Royals were four points clear by half-time and a 36th minute goal from the boot of Luke Kelly extended their advantage to 2-12 0-7 as they ran out comprehensive 13-point victors.

Dublin’s Leinster MFC schedule is - Round 1: Dublin 3-15 Louth 1-7 (Monday, May 7); Round 2: Meath v Dublin (Wednesday, May 23); Round 3: Offaly v Dublin (Wednesday, May 30); Round 4: Dublin v Wicklow (Wednesday, June 27); Round 5: Westmeath v Dublin (Tuesday, July 3).

THIS WEEK'S LEINSTER CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

WEDNESDAY

Leinster MFC O'Connor Park:Offaly v Westmeath, 7.0, S Mulhare (Laois)
Páirc Tailteann, Navan:Meath v Dublin, 7.0, B Cawley
Ardee:Louth v Wicklow, 7.0, P Maguire (Longford)
Innovate Wexford Park:Wexford v Laois, 7.0, J Hickey (Carlow)
Netwatch Cullen Park:Carlow v Kildare, 7.0, F Pierce (Offaly)

FRIDAY

Leinster MHC O'Moore Park, Portlaoise:Laois v Kilkenny, 7.0, G McGrath (Wexford)
Longwood:Carlow v Down, 7.30, K Brady (Louth)
St Conleth's Park, Newbridge:Kildare v Meath, 7.30, B Redmond (Wexford)

SATURDAY

Leinster SFC quarter-final (extra-time if necessary)
O'Connor Park, Tullamore: Laois v Westmeath, 5.0, P Hughes (Armagh)

Leinster SHC O'Connor Park, Tullamore:Offaly v Wexford, 7.0, J McGrath (Westmeath)

Leinster U-21 HC (extra-time if necessary)
Parnell Park: Antrim v Carlow, 2.0, S Stack (Dublin)
O'Moore Park: Laois v Dublin, 2.0, B Burke (Kilkenny)

SUNDAY

Leinster SFC quarter-final (extra time if necessary) O'Connor Park:Carlow v Kildare, 2.0, C Reilly (Meath)
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park:Longford v Meath, 3.0, S Hurson (Tyrone)
O'Moore Park:Wicklow v Dublin, 4.0, C Branagan (Down)

Leinster SHC
Pearse Park: Galway v Kilkenny, 4.0, F Horgan (Tipperary)

Leinster MHC
Parnell Park: Dublin v Wexford, 2.0, A Devine (Westmeath)
Dowdallshill: Offaly v Antrim, 3.0, T Gleeson (Dublin)

MONDAY

Leinster U20FC Group 1

Pearse Park, Longford: Longford v Dublin, 7.0