Meath, Laois, Wicklow, Dublin and Kildare were victorious in Round 2 of the Leinster U20FC last night.

Meath and Laois have qualified for the quarter-finals from Group 1 with a round to spare after picking up their second wins. A first half brace of goals from Ruairi Kinsella helped Meath - who were minor champions three years ago - to a facile 2-11 to 0-4 victory over Carlow in Ashbourne. The Royals led by 2-7 to 0-4 at half-time as the visitors failed to register a score in the second half.

It was a much closer affair at Laois Hire O'Moore Park where the hosts needed late points from Conor Heffernan, Cathal Lee, and David Costello to edge out Longford by 2-12 to 2-9. 

The O'Moore County raced into an early 2-4 to 0-0 lead, only for Longford to hit back with goals from Jamie Brady Hynes and Jason Glancy. The visitors took the lead midway through the second half, but Laois found another gear in the closing stages.

There was drama in Group 2 where a late point from substitute Jack Reid saw Wicklow edge out Offaly by 2-8 to 1-10 at Faithful Fields. A goal from the fit-again Cormac Egan got the hosts off to a flying start, but the Garden County responded with majors from Joe Prendergast and Tommy Keogh to take a 2-6 to 1-3 lead into the break.

Jamie Guing led a spirited Offaly fightback in the second half, but Reid had the final say to leave the 2021 All-Ireland champions on the brink of elimination.

At Parnell Park, second half goals from Joe Quigley (penalty) and Caelum Moriarty helped Dublin to a comfortable 2-16 to 0-7 win over Louth. With two victories from two, Dublin are through to the knockout stages, while Louth - who drew with Offaly in the first round - have it all to do against Wicklow in the last round.

In the three-team Group 3, holders Kildare bounced back from their first round loss to Westmeath with a double-scores victory - 0-16 to 0-8 - over Wexford at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Ryan Sinkey, Niall Dolan and Shane Farrell were in fine scoring form as the Lilywhites kept their championship hopes alive.

Last night's results were:

Group 1

Laois 2-12 Longford 2-9

Meath 2-11 Carlow 0-4

Group 2

Wicklow 2-8 Offaly 1-10

Dublin 2-16 Louth 0-7

Group 3

Kildare 0-16 Wexford 0-8

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