U-20s sunk by Kildare flourish

KILDARE MEATH 2-17 3-12

AHEAD by a point as the clock ticked over the hour mark, Meath imploded in the closing minutes to allow Kildare snatch victory and a place in the John Kerins Cup Under-20 Development League final at Dunganny last Saturday.

A draw would have been sufficient for Meath to see them qualify, but they looked like picking up their third successive win when leading 3-12 to 2-11 following Cian Rogers’ 54th-minute point.

However, the Royals failed to add to their tally after that and six unanswered points gave Kildare the final spot. Substitute Alex Beirne hit the equalising point three minutes into added time and Darragh Kirwan and Beirne then pointed to complete the smash and grab by the Lillywhites.

Attacks were on top throughout, but they didn’t always make the best use of possession and some of the Meath finishing in particular was very disappointing when they had opportunities to close out the game.

With Cian Rogers, Luke Mitchell and Aaron Lynch on target, the hosts led 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes, but the Meath defence looked vulnerable throughout the opening half and it was breached on 14 minutes when Luke Griffin netted.

Jordan Morris missed a goal chance for Meath and Darragh Kirwan failed to hit the target from a couple of metres at the other end, and although Meath were ahead approaching halftime, Kildare hit two points before Shane O’Sullivan netted to leave them leading 2-6 to 0-8 at the break.

Ger Robinson’s side performed much better in the third quarter, with goals from Rogers, Daithi McGowan and Matt Moyles, and they led 3-9 to 2-11 at that stage.

A super point from Cathal Hickey strengthened Meath’s position and they seemed to have done enough before their challenge fizzled out dramatically in the closing stages, and that allowed Kildare seize the initiative.

MEATH: Sean Brennan (Dunderry); James O’Hare (Rathkenny), Sean Ryan (Dunboyne), Ben Wyer (Ratoath); Conal Courtney (Gaeil Colmcille), Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown) 0-1, Michael Murphy (Dunboyne); Daithi McGowan (Ratoath) 1-0, Cian Rogers (Ratoath) 1-3; Paddy Matthews (Meath Hill), Jordan Morris (Nobber), Matt Moyles (Dunshaughlin) 1-0; Jack Flynn (Ratoath), Aaron Lynch (Trim) 0-4, Luke Mitchell (Dunshaughlin) 0-3. Subs: Conor Farrelly (Walterstown for Courtney (16min), Barry O’Connell (Walterstown) 0-1 for Matthews (h-t), Conor Hartford (St Vincent’s) for Murphy, Dylan Keating (Seneschalstown) for Mitchell (both 39), Alan Mulvaney (Seneschalstown) for Moyles (52), Keith Curtis (Rathkenny) for Rogers (56), Shane Smyth (Skryne) for O’Connell (60).

REF: Stephen Johnson (Louth)