Kildare 2-13 Meath 1-16 (after extra time)

Kildare win 5-3 on penalties

Extra time and penalties were needed to separate Kildare and Meath in this superb Leinster Minor Football Championship final played at O’Moore Park Portlaoise.

When these two met in round 2 a dominant Kildare side left Skryne with a five point victory.

Kildare, playing with the breeze, raced into a two point lead with fine efforts from Eoghan Lyons and Jack Reilly. Their good start was undone when keeper Joe Crotty spilled a high ball into the path of Liam O’Donoghue and the Meath half back finished to an empty net. Greg Kelly and Lyons pushed the Lily Whites in front again before Harry McGurik got the first of his two opening half points. With five minutes remaining Kildare held a two point advantage but Meath made it a draw game, 0-8 to 1-5, at the break with a Milo Stafford free and a second from the influential Conn Brennan. 

The young Royals were the better team in the second half. Stafford put Trevor Giles’ men in front from a free. Reilly responded with a brace but for the next 20 minutes Meath took over. Holding Kildare scoreless and with points from McGuirk, Stafford, Leo Kavanagh, Brennan and Cormac Walsh they led by four with injury time approaching. Kildare refused to give up and substitute Logan Tennyson hit 1-1 in the second minute of added on time to break Meath hearts and send the game to extra time.

The sides were still level at the end of the first period of extra time. With scores at a premium Kildare’s Greg Kelly produced a wonder goal and they looked to be on their way to victory. It’s was Meath’s turn to step up and step up they did. Stafford landed the game's only two pointer. Keeper Cormac Fitzsimons levelled matters from a free and with two minutes to go Stafford gave Meath the lead. Yet again the silverware seemed to be heading to Meath but Kildare won a free, Tennyson converted to send a rip roaring contest to penalties.

Both teams were excellent from the spot kicks but unfortunately for Meath captain Harry McGuirk, who has been one of the standout players for the Royals during the campaign, saw his kick saved by Crotty and Kildare scored two further penalties to be crowned champions.

Kildare: Joe Crotty; Luke Shanahan, Ryan Crawford, Eoin Markey; Fionn Lawlor 0-1, Jack Doran, Liam Mescal; Charlie Doran, Páidí Ryan 0-1; Jamie Flood, Greg Kelly 1-2, Eoghan Lyons 0-2; Jack Reilly 0-5, Aidan Tobin, Cian Kehoe. Subs: Logan Tennyson 1-2, Aodhán Bergin, Fiachra Martin, Rory Cooke. Extra time: Gearóid Clare, Callum Cowzer

Meath: Cormac Fitzsimons 0-1; Ben Browne, Tomás Clarke, Niall Rogan; Liam O'Donoghue 1-0, John Killoran, Niall Smyth; Cormac McKenna, Conn Brennan 0-3; Harry McGuirk 0-3, Tomás Proudfoot, Alex Keane; Cormac Walsh, Milo Stafford 0-6, Dara Loughran. Subs: Leo Kavanagh 0-1, Thomas McKeever, Harry Keating, Tomás Dillon 0-1. Extra time:  Dara Loughran and Dillon Glynn

Ref: Enda Kelly (Westmeath).

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