Dominant Meath in control against Longford U-20s

While already through to the knockout stages of this year’s Leinster U-20 Football Championship, Longford failed in their bid for an automatic semi-final spot as they fell short against a dominant Meath side who top the table in going through to the last four of the competition. 

Meath . . . 3-15   Longford . . . 0-12 

Donal Ledwith’s charges finished in second position in Group 2 and will now progress to a quarter-final against Offaly next Wednesday in the showdown between the counties who won the last two Leinster Minor (U-17) titles.  

Played at Allen Park in Newtownforbes on Wednesday night, Longford got off the mark quickly as Paddy Mollaghan opened the scoring with a free but Meath would go on to get the next six scores despite kicking 5 wides in the opening 10 minutes. 

A free from centre-half-forward John Harkin in the 6th minute was followed by a Cian Commons point, a goal from Colin Scanlon after he was there to collect the rebound as Longford shot stopper Darragh Egan made a brilliant save a moment earlier, a point from Eoin McCrudden and a Ben Corkery brace had Meath in full control and leading on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. 

Max Gallagher and Mollaghan added a point each for the home side but Meath struck for a second goal as a free dropped into the Longford square and Meath full-forward Cian Commons was there to fist the ball to the net to put his side into a commanding lead at the break, 2-6 to 0-3. 

Meath continued their dominance around the middle of the field and accurate scoring form as wing back Cormac Smyth added another point after the restart. 

Longford enjoyed their strongest period of scores between the 35th and 40th minute as substitute Sean Fagan pounced on a loose ball and found the target along with a Cormac Flynn point and a Luke Donnelly two pointer free off the ground to leave 7 points between the sides. 

But the Meath superiority continued as they added another 7 points in 5 minutes, midfielder Paul Hennessy’s two pointer kick in the 47th minute was the pick of the bunch. 

Meath could have had another goal but a super save from Longford net minder Darragh Egan kept the Cormac O’Donoghue effort out which eventually led to a point from Cian Commons to leave the matter beyond doubt. 

Longford’s chief marksman Paddy Mollaghan (who finished the game with 0-6) kicked a two pointer from play in the 50th minute along with a James Hagan point after a goal chance was knocked over the bar and another free from Mollaghan in the 58th minute brought the final tally to 12 points. 

A stoppage time goal from Meath substitute Adam Ducie was the final action of the game as the stronger Meath side ran out comfortable winners. 

Longford: Darragh Egan (Carrickedmond); Alex Nugent (Mostrim), Ronan Burke (Ballymahon), Mark Cooney (Clonguish); Conor McHugh (Grattans), Colin Gilna (Abbeylara), William McEntire (Dromard); Daniel Galvin (Kenagh), Max Gallagher (Ardagh Moydow, 0-1); Peter Farrell (Grattans), Jamie Dorr (Clonguish), Luke Donnelly (Colmcille, 0-2, two pointer free); James Hagan (Clonguish, 0-1), Patrick Mollaghan (St Brigid’s Killashee, 0-6, 2 frees, 1 two pointer from play), Cormac Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1).

Subs used: Alan Mimnagh (Clonguish) for A Nugent (Injured, 23 mins), Sean Fagan (Abbeylara, 0-1) for D Galvin (half-time), Sean Egan (Carrickedmond) for P Farrell (50 mins), Kevin Baskett (Clonguish) for W McEntire (51 mins), Cian O’Donnell (St Marys Granard) for L Donnelly (55 mins). 

Meath: Finn Moore, Cillian Yore, Sam Jordan, Shane Callaghan, Cormac Smith (0-2), Colin Scanlon (1-0), Kyle O’Brien, Michael McIvor, Paul Hennessy (0-2, two pointer from play), Eoin McCrudden (0-1), John Harkin (0-3, 2 frees), Stephen Cahill (0-1), Ben Corkery (0-2), Cian Commons (1-2), Cormac O’Donoghue (0-1).

Subs used: Charlie Gallagher for M McIvor (45 mins), Adam Ducie (1-0) for B Corkery (48 mins), John Gormley for C Scanlon (50 mins), Liam Jennings for C Commons (55 mins), Sean Delaney (0-1) for J Harkin (57 mins). 

Referee: Kevin Williamson (Offaly).