Dalata Hotel Group Leinster U-20 FC: Kildare through to the decider

Dalata Hotel Group Leinster U20 Football Championship semi-final

Kildare 1-20 Meath 2-15

By Paul Keane at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge

Is this to be another of those thrilling seasons for a Kildare U-20 team?

Three times in the last decade, the Lilywhites have won the Dalata Hotel Group sponsored Leinster U-20 competition and, on each occasion, they have ended up contesting an All-Ireland final, winning two of them.

It looks like Niall Cronin has another special team on his hands after seeing off the substantial challenge of 2025 Leinster finalists Meath to secure their return to the provincial decider, against holders Louth this time.

Jimmy Lynch stood out in their talented team in Newbridge this evening with a terrific 1-8 haul to break visitors Meath and leave Kildare on the brink of a 14th title.

There were strong contributions too from Liam Kenny and Colm Moran while Kildare will feel they edged the vital midfield battle.

There was drama late on as Kildare, leading by four points with five minutes to go, coughed up a two-pointer and then a single to powerful Meath forward Cian Commons.

But the young Royals couldn't get any closer than a point to Kildare in the closing stages as the Lilywhites' ability to get scores that little bit easier on the evening ultimately edged the game for them.

Meath signposted their goal threat beforehand by topping Group 1 with 11 goals in three games to get to the last four.

And Cathal Ó Bric's side needed just 13 minutes to make it a neat dozen goals for the Championship when Colin Scanlon found the net.

Paul Hennessy delivered the high ball in and centre-back Scanlon rose highest to redirect the ball over the line.

Meath led by 1-4 to 0-2 at that stage and couldn't haven't asked for a better opening quarter.

But they only added three more points for the half as Kildare, playing with the significant breeze, came alive in the second quarter.

Ronan Kelly was their danger man having scored 3-16 in their three games beforehand but didn't escape Cillian Yore for a score from play.

They still had potent attackers in Lynch, who sniped 0-6 in the opening half, as well as Kenny and Daniel Colbert.

Kildare finished the half with four points in a row, from Evan Boyle, Kenny, Colbert and Lynch, to take a deserved 0-12 to 1-7 interval lead.

They won the third quarter as well thanks in the main to Lynch's 40th minute goal from a penalty after a foul on Calum Keaveny.

With 47 minutes on the clock, Kildare were 1-16 to 2-8 up, Cormac O'Donoghue's goal for Meath just about keeping them in the contest.

Commons did his best to reel in Kildare late on but it would have been a smash and grab and late Lilies points from Athy star Moran and Lynch propelled them through to the decider.

Scorers for Kildare: Jimmy Lynch 1-8 (1-0 pen, 1 tp, 0-2f, 0-1 45), Liam Kenny 0-3, Colm Moran 0-3, Daniel Colbert 0-2, Ronan Kelly 0-1 (0-1f), Liam Kelly 0-1, Evan Boyle 0-1, Ruaidhrí Lawlor 0-1.

Scorers for Meath: Colin Scanlon 1-1, Cormac O'Donoghue 1-0, John Harkin 0-6 (2 tpf, 0-2f), Cian Commons 0-4 ((1 tp), Ben Corkery 0-1, Cormac O'Donoghue 0-1, Stephen Cahill 0-1, Cormac Smith 0-1.

Kildare: Charlie Carroll; Ben Ryan, Finn Dowling, Senan Gallagher; Cian McKevitt, Liam Kelly, Calum Keaveny; Evan Boyle, Ruaidhrí Lawlor; Daniel Colbert, Colm Moran, Jimmy Lynch; Liam Kenny, Euan Cowzer, Ronan Kelly.

Subs: Harry Redmond for Keaveny 47, Luke Murray for Cowzer 47, Rob Murray for Kenny 51, Cian Keaveny for Lynch 63.

Meath: Finn Moore; Cillian Yore, Sam Jordan, Shane Callaghan; Cormac Smith, Colin Scanlon, Kyle O'Brien; Michael McIvor, Paul Hennessy; Eoin McCrudden, John Harkin, Stephen Cahill; Ben Corkery, Cian Commons, Cormac O'Donoghue.

Subs: Adam Ducie for McIvor 37, Seán Delaney for McCrudden 41, Ciarán O'Hare for O'Brien 47, Pat Crawley for Corkery 52, Evan Kelly for Scanlon 58.

Referee: James Foley (Carlow).