By Kevin Egan

Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare and Meath all picked up wins to guarantee their places in the knockout stages of the Eirgrid Leinster U-20 football championship this afternoon, with two out of Offaly, Louth and Carlow set to join them after tomorrow’s clash in Tullamore between Offaly and the Wee County.

Wexford’s home clash with the Dubs at Innovate Wexford Park was a hugely entertaining fixture, lit up by a truly magnificent point from goalkeeper Ivan Meegan midway through the first half that put the Model men 0-8 to 0-4 ahead.

After taking possession in his own goalmouth, Meegan worked the ball up the field with a series of passes before letting fly from nearly 60 metres with a strike that will be played over and over on social media this week.

Dublin added a point before half time and thanks to a couple of superb points from Sean Farrelly, drew level early in the second half. Dan O’Brien put a penalty over the bar to put the Dubs in front and once Ross McGarry palmed in a goal, Dublin were able to power ahead and record a 1-15 to 0-11 win.

Dublin top the group and go straight into a semi-final, while Westmeath just needed to avoid a heavy defeat to Longford to secure their place in the quarter-final round against the winner of the three-team group.

They never looked in danger, with Sean Pettit and James Maxwell on target for 0-5 between them in the first half. Westmeath led by 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park and doubled that after the break with points from Tom Molloy, Daniel Reid and Pettit.

Tom Molloy’s goal on 50 minutes pushed them further out and the game had moved into injury time when Rory Harkin got Longford’s goal to close out the scoring at 1-16 to 1-10 in favour of the visiting side.

Meath and Laois was in the balance at half time when the hosts at Páirc Tailteann turned around 0-10 to 0-5 in front with a strong breeze set to blow into their faces after half time, but a goal from Ethan Devine immediately after half time completely changed the complexion of the game.

Laois rallied well however with Diarmuid Whelan kicking five scores in a run of six consecutive points for the midlanders, but they never got the goal they needed and a second green flag for Devine in late stages left it 2-13 to 0-13 at the end.

Meath topped group two on the back of that result and go straight into a semi-final, while Kildare will play a quarter final after two goals from Padraig Nash and 0-12 from Jimmy Hyland backboned a 3-17 to 0-4 win over Wicklow at St. Conleth’s Park.