Royals rule in Gerry Reilly clash
MEATH LOUTH
TWO goals within three minutes of the start set Meath up for an emphatic win over their neighbours in the semi-final of the Gerry Reilly U-16 FT at Millbrook on Sunday evening.
The hosts opened up a nine point lead by the seventh minute and that left Louth struggling to stay in contention. It wasn’t that Louth hadn’t their fair share of possession, but they were wasteful in front of the posts and eight of their 14 wides came in the opening half.
Skryne’s Niall Finnerty was Meath star man, contributing a tally of 2-8, with four of those points coming from placed balls. Barry Thompson also impressed in the winners full forward line, scoring two opening half goals.
Louth relied on full forward Luke Matthews for the bulk of their scores and the Ardee St Mary’s club man hit 1-7, with all seven points coming from placed balls.
The efforts of midfield duo Conall McCaul and Craig Shevlin ensured Louth enjoyed an abundance of possession but wayward shooting and a tendency to go for goals scuppered their chances.
Thompson netted within a minute of the start after being set up by Finnerty, and Pearse Sheridan added a point before Evan Corrigan netted with Finnerty again the provider.
Two long range points from midfielder McCaul had Louth off the mark and they went close to finding the net on the quarter hour mark but Ben Collier’s effort was cleared off the line by Marc Donnelly.
Meath’s third goal arrived on 17 minutes from Thompson and the Royals went on to enjoy a 3-8 to 0-6 interval lead.
Louth had the better of the exchanges in the third quarter and they were just seven points in arrears after Matthews got on the end of a Craig Shevlin delivery to fist to the net on 43 minutes.
The Wee County were unable to build on that score however and Meath reasserted their authority from there to the finish.
Livewire Finnerty was in unstoppable form and added to his tally in the final 10 minutes with two goals.
Meath will meet Cavan in the decider on September 9th.
The man-of-the-match award went to Meath’s corner back Harry Corscadden (Meath Hill).
MEATH: Dean Pluck (Ballinabrackey); Marc Donnelly (Ratoath), James McGovern (Drumbaragh), Harry Corscadden (Meath Hill); Harry Ryan 0-1 (Ballinlough), Brian Cassidy (Kilmainhamwood), Cillian Hegarty (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Josh Carolan (Simonstown), Endy Ehichoya (St Colmcille’s); Evan Corrigan 1-0 (Wolfe Tones), Pearse Sheridan 0-1 (Oldcastle), Shane Smyth (Skryne); Niall Finnerty 2-8, 4f (Skryne), Barry Thompson 2-3, 1f (Ballinabrackey), Aaron Chinchilla (Simonstown). Subs: Aitzol King (St Patrick’s) for Ehichoya, Evan Quinn (Donaghmore/ Ashbourne) for Hegarty, Shane Carpenter (Syddan) for Sheridan, Ciaran McCarrick (Dunshaughlin) for Ryan, Jamie O’Shea (Summerhill) for Donnelly, Jamie Browne (Donaghmore/Ashbourne) for Finnerty.
LOUTH: Niall Brady (Cooley Kickhams); Aidan Grant (Roche Emmets), Evan Maher (St Kevin’s), MJ Hanlon (Cooley Kickhams); James McDonnell (Roche Emmets), Daniel McArdle (St Brides), Patrick Murtagh (Kilkerley Emmets); Conall McCaul 0-2 (St Joseph’s), Craig Shevlin (Dreadnots); Ben Collier (St Joseph’s), Tadhg Donnelly (Dreadnots), Ben Smyth (O’Raghallaighs); Thomas Rice (Sean O’Mahonys), Luke Matthews 1-7, 7f (St Mary’s), Tom Grey 0-1 (Naomh Mairtin). Subs: Fintan Watters 0-1 (Roche Emmets) for Smyth, Pauric McKinney (St Mary’s) for Maher, Ewan Sweeney 0-1 (O Raghallaighs) for Donnelly, Podge Downey (St Nicholas) for McDonnell, Peter Lynch (Roche Emmets) for Murtagh, Aaron Carolan (Cooley Kickhams) for Rice, Gerard Bourton (Glyde) for Grant, Adam Flynn (Mattock Rangers) for McCaul, Aaron Crawford (Kilkerley) for Shevlin.
Conor Dourneen (Cavan) FIXTURES
Tuesday 21st August
Junior 2A Championship
Dundalk Gaels v St Josephs, Colin Halligan, 7.15; Ardee St. Mary’s G.F.C. v St Patrick’s GFC, ref tbc, 7.15; St Fechins GAA v Mattock Rangers, Andrew Lenehan, 7.30
Junior 2B Championship
Hunterstown Rovers GFC v Roche Emmets GFC, ref tbc, 7.00; Annaghminnon Rovers v St. Kevins, Thomas Mulholland, 7.15; Dreadnots v Kilkerley Emmets, Tommy Mc Enteggart, 7.30
Junior 2C Championship
O’Connells GFC v Na Piarsaigh, John Crawley, 7.15; Naomh Mairtin v John Mitchels, Patsy Connolly, 7.30
Drogheda Independent U13 Div 2
St Fechins GAA v Kilkerley Emmets/Naomh Malachi, Cathal O Brien, 7.00
Wednesday 22nd August
U18 A Championship Group 1
Clan na nGael v St. Kevins, Paul Kneel, 7.30; Dundalk Young Irelands v Roche Emmets GFC, James Carroll, 7.30
U18 A Championship Group 2
Geraldines v Ardee St. Mary’s G.F.C., Ultan Mc Elroy, 7.30; St Fechins GAA v Naomh Mairtin, David Fedigan, 7.30
U18 A Championship Group 3
Kilkerley Emmets/Naomh Malachi v Dreadnots, Patsy Connolly, 7.30; St Patrick’s GFC v Dundalk Gaels, ref tbc, 7.30
U18 A Championship Group 4
Cooley Kickhams v St Mochtas/St Brides, ref tbc, 7.30
U18 B Championship Group 1
St Josephs v Naomh Fionnbarra/Lannleire, Stephen Murphy, 7.30; O`Raghallaighs v St Nicholas GFC, ref tbc, 7.30
U18 B Championship Group 2
Newtown Blues v Glen Emmets, Cormac Reilly, 7.30
Thursday 23rd August Anchor Tours SHC
Mattock Rangers v St Fechins GAA (Darver), Gerry Keoghan, 7.00; Knockbridge v Naomh Moninne (Pairc Naomh Brid), Jim O Rourke, 7.00
Friday 24th August Drogheda Independent U15 Div 2
St Patrick’s GFC v St. Kevins, ref tbc, 7.00; Naomh Fionnbarra/Lannleire v Na Piarsaigh/ Sean O’Mahonys/Dowdallshill, John Crawley, 7.00; Wolfe Tones Football v O’Connells/Stabannon Parnells/John Mitchels, Paul Finnegan, 7.00; Roche Emmets GFC v Kilkerley Emmets/ Naomh Malachi, ref tbc, 7.00
Drogheda Independent U15 Div 3
St Josephs v St Nicholas GFC, ref tbc, 7.00; Newtown Blues v Glyde Rangers/Sean McDermotts/Westerns, ref tbc, 7.00
Drogheda Independent/ U15 Div 1
O`Raghallaighs v Cooley Kickhams, ref tbc, 7.00; St Brides v Geraldines, ref tbc, 7.00; St Fechins GAA v Clan na nGael, ref tbc, 7.00; Dundalk Young Irelands/St Mochtas v Glen Emmets, Cathal O Brien, 7.00
CTI Business Solutions IFC Play-offs
Na Piarsaigh v Clan na nGael (Darver), ref tbc, 7.00; Hunterstown Rovers GFC v Glen Emmets (Darver), ref tbc, 8.15
Saturday 25th August Division 4 Play-off
Mattock Rangers v St Brides, ref tbc, 4.00
Division 4/5 Play-off
St Patrick’s GFC v Dreadnots, ref tbc, 4.00
Division 5/6 Play-off
O’Connells GFC v Annaghminnon Rovers, ref tbc, 4.00
U14A Championship