Royals reign as Mitchell leads them to Leinster title

MEATH claimed their first Leinster minor football title in 10 years on Saturday as they put in a clinical and composed performance in O’Connor Park, Tullamore, to comfortably account for Kildare.

Meath selector Paddy Gilsenan played in their last final win in 2008, but this was all about the new wave of young Meath men making their mark.

They made their own bit of unique history as they became the first team to win the newly graded U-17 Minor championship.

The Royal County had cornerforward and Man of the Match Luke Mitchell in exceptional form and his haul of eight points was significant. From play and from frees he was deadly accurate as a first-half foundation led them to the title.

Their support play was one facet of their play that made them stand out. While Kildare were suffocated, Meath always had options and they made their presence felt.

With Cian McBride pulling the strings at midfield and the pace of wing-forward Bryan McCormack causing Kildare early problems, Meath started brightly and opened up a 0-4 to nil lead after 10 minutes.

Sam Morrissey replied with a free for Kildare’s first score, but with Mitchell to the fore, the Royals opened up a 0-7 to 0-1 lead midway through the half.

Kildare were struggling for the end product, but they did get two points back, with the second of those from Alex Beirne on 18 minutes their last score of the half.

Boosted by three late scores from Mitchell, Meath bossed the remainder of the half and led 0-11 to

0-3 at the break.

The result was put beyond doubt seven minutes into the second-half as a McCormack goal coupled with another brace of points from Mitchell left it 1-13 to 0-4.

Meath could have had another goal late on, but for the heroics of keeper John Ball.

Marcus Kiely did strike a late consolation goal as the Royals set up an All-Ireland quarter-final with Derry next weekend, while Kildare will have to pick themselves up for a meeting with Monaghan.

Speaking afterwards, Meath manager Joe Treanor was happy to get the job done.

“I am very happy with how the lads played today. It was a really solid performance throughout the game. We laid good foundations in the first-half and the goal in the third quarter made us really comfortable.”