Offaly 2-11 Meath 1-15

A Brian Carroll goal deep into injury time gave Offaly their first win of the campaign and denied an experimental Meath their third win in a row in this Leinster Under 20 Group 1 football championship clash at Ashbourne.

The home side got a brilliant start with goals from Evan Kelly and corner back Cillian Yore inside the opening four minutes. Offaly relied on free taker Kaelem Bryan for scores and by the 25th minute Meath held a 2-3 to 0-4 lead before the visitors enjoyed a purple patch. Dara Bates kicked a two pointer, captain David O’Rourke raised a white flag and Davin Keegan raised another orange flag to leave only a point in it at the break 2-4 to 0-9.

The sides were level 2-6 to 0-12 at the three quarter stage before Conor Fox pushed the Faithful in front for the first time. Meath responded in style with four unanswered points from Kelly, Conor O’Brien, Sean Benson and Cormac Liggan to open up a three point lead with extra time looming. Cillian Foran narrowed the gap to two before Carroll broke through for the match winning goal. 

The winners move on to the Andrew Corden Cup while Meath played Wexford in the Leinster quarter final.

Offaly scorers: Kaelem Bryan 0-5, Brian Carroll 1-1, Dara Bates 0-3, Davin Keegan and Cillian Foran 0-2 each, David O'Rourke and Conor Fox 0-1 each.

Meath scorers: Evan Kelly 1-1, Cillian Yore 1-0, Pat Crawley 0-3, Conor O'Brien 0-2, Brian Mackey, Sean Betson, Zach Thornton, Cian Duggan and Cormac Liggan 0-1 each.

Offaly: Conor Meila; Jack Daly, Paul Conway, Charlie Keogh; Jake Maher (Ferbane), Patrick Kenna, Harry Goulding; David O Rourke, Eoin Dunne; Dara Cuddihy, Dara Bates, Davin Keegan; Ciaran Scully, Luke Kelly, Kaelem Bryan. Subs: Cillian Foran , Jack Maher, Conor Fox, Cian Bracken, Brian Carroll

Meath: Brayden Colfer, Cillian Yore, Fiach Hartigan, Oisin Brennan, Aidan Mackey, James Reeves, Semi Byrne, Harry Cahill, Sean Betson, Conor O'Brien, Zach Thornton, Ivo Fitzherbert, Pat Crawley, Cian Dugan, Evan Kelly. Subs: Eoin Drysdale, Michael O'Sullivan, Aaron Farrelly, Cormac Liggan, John Gormley.

Referee: Enda Kelly.

Round 1 results

Meath 1-22 Dublin 1-18, Ashbourne 

Offaly 0-14 Westmeath. 1-17, Faithful Fields

Louth 4-16 Longford 1-15, Darver 

Laois 0-6 Kildare 3-18, Portlaoise 

Carlow 0-14 Wexford 2-10, Dr Cullen Park 

Round 2 results

Westmeath 0-12 Meath 0-19, Kinnegad

Offaly 1-13 Dublin 2-17, Faithful Fields 

Wicklow 1-19 Louth 0-27, Baltinglass 

Kildare 4-26 Carlow 0-18, Newbridge 

Laois 0-19 Wexford 1-16, Portlaoise 

Round 3 Results

Dublin 2-20 Westmeath 3-9, Parnell Park

Meath 2-11 Offaly 1-15, Ashbourne 

Longford 1-18 Wicklow 3-14, Clonguish 

Wexford 1-12 Kildare 1-24, Wexford Park 

Carlow 1-13 Laois 2-10, SETU Carlow

 

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