Kildare crash out to Meath in U20 semi-final

Kildare crashed out of the Leinster U20 Football Championship losing out to Meath in this evening's semi-final by all of eight points.

There was no denying the merits of the home side as they built up a half time lead of five points, playing with the aid of the wind and then holding out, comfortably in the second with The Lilies only adding three points.

While Meath opened brightest it was Kildare who were first on to the score board with a brilliant Jay O'Brien goal, followed by a point from Ben Loakman.

Meath hit back with the first of their five two-pointers in that half with a Jamie Murphy free; James Harkin added another two-pointer and Harkin made it 0-5 to 1-2 after 19 minutes.

Rian Harkin, Jamie Murphy added points while James Harries replied for The Lilies.

Meath with the strong wind on their backs saw Rian Stafford get another brilliant long range two-pointer and while Kildare hit back with an Eoin Cully point, that man Stafford fired over another two-pointer free followed by another similar score to leave it Meath 0-13 Kildare 1-5 at the break.

Playing with the wind in second half Kildare never managed to put Meath under added pressure and as the play moved on it was obvious from a long way out that it was The Royals who would advance to the final where they will play Louth who defeated Dublin, also this evening.

Final score: Meath 0-19 Kildare 1-8.

Scorers: Meath, Rian Stafford 0-8 (three two pointers, 3 frees), John Harkin 0-2 (two-pointer), Jamie Murphy 0-7 (two two-pointer frees, free), Ben Corkery 0-1, Liam Jennings 0-1.

Kildare, Jay O'Brien 1-0, Eoin Cully 0-2, Fintan Quinn 0-2 (1 free), Joey Cunningham 0-2 (two-pointer), James Harris 0-1, Ben Loakman 0-1.

MEATH: Matthew Kealy; Sam Jordan, Rian Early, Ciaran O'Hare; Tadgh Martyn cpt., Fiach Hartigan, Finn White; Eamonn Armstrong, Michael McIvor; Rian Staffrd, John Harkin, Zach Thornton; Ben Corkery, Jamie Murphy Liam Jennings. Subs: John Gormley for Finn White (50 minutes); Conor O'Brien for Zach Thornton (50 minutes).

KILDARE: Charlie Carroll (Eadestown); Liam Kelly (Milltown), Padraic Spillane (Athy), Niall Cramer (Raheens); Colm Moran (Athy), James Harris cpt (Castlemitchell), Cathal White (Sarsfields); Senan Murphy (St Laurence's), Ross Harris (Castlemtichell); Ryan Sinkey (Naas), Ben Loakman (Sarsfields), Killian Browne (Celbridge); Jay O'Brien (Round Towers), Fintan Quinn (Naas), Eoin Cully (Carbury). Subs: Joey Cunningham (Allenwood) for Killian Browne (41 minutes); Ben Ryan (Round Towers) for Ross Harris (43 minutes); Austin Donegan (Rathangan) for Senan Murphy (53 minutes); Jimmy Lynch (Clogherinkoe) for Jay O'Brien (53 minutes).

REFEREE: Anthony Nolan, Wicklow.