Eamonn Armstrong of Meath in action against Liam Flynn of Louth during the EirGrid Leinster GAA Football U20 Championship Final match between Meath and Louth at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
EirGrid Leinster U-20 football championship final
MEATH 3-13 Louth 0-12
By Paul Keane at Parnell Park
Another tour de force from Eamonn Armstrong helped Meath to a landmark EirGrid Leinster U-20 FC title success, the county's first since 2001.
Wing-back Armstrong, from the Duleek Bellewstown club, netted for the third game running and finished with 1-2 at Parnell Park as Meath secured a ninth provincial title at the grade.
Jamie Murphy was terrific for the Cathal O Bric managed side too and struck 1-5 while substitute Tadhg Martyn sniped a late, late goal to secure a slightly flattering 10-point win.
O Bric managed Meath to All-Ireland minor success in 2021 and has now guided much of the same group to a rare provincial title at the next grade up.
Meath will attempt to push on now for another All-Ireland title and will take on the Munster champions - Cork or Kerry - at the last four stage on May 11/12.
Returning to Parnell Park brought contrasting emotions for both camps as Louth beat Dublin there just last week.
As for Meath, they lost to the Dubs at the Donneycarney venue in the group stage before rebounding with knock-out wins over Laois and Kildare to reach the final.
Louth, thriving on those positive vibes, opened up an early 0-4 to 0-2 lead and hinted that another famous win in north Dublin was on the cards.
Kieran McArdle, who came into the decider with 4-23 from five games, scored two of those four Louth points in the opening quarter.
But things suddenly went south for Fergal Reel's side who didn't score again until the 25th minute.
In the meantime, Meath reeled off 1-4 without response to take firm control of the game with their aggressive press on Louth's kick-out proving effective.
Hughie Corcoran, Jack Kinlough, Rian Stafford and Murphy pointed for Meath before Armstrong struck the crucial goal.
Louth were aware of his attacking threat but couldn't prevent him from bursting forward, getting on the end of a Conor Duke pass and slipping a low finish to the net.
Louth's response was impressive, back-to-back points from Maguire, to leave the goal between the teams at half-time, 1-6 to 0-6.
Pearse Grimes Murphy cut the deficit further with a point after the restart before Meath drilled their second goal.
Armstrong was the provider again with a blistering run through the centre before offloading to Murphy who could have taken his point but went for goal and was rewarded.
Meath dominated the final quarter, outscoring their neighbours by 1-7 to 0-3 in the last 20 minutes or so to take the U-20 silverware for the ninth time in their history.
Meath scorers: Jamie Murphy 1-5 (0-2f), Eamon Armstrong 1-2, Tadhg Martyn 1-0, Liam Kelly 0-2, Hughie Corcoran 0-2 (0-1f), Rian Stafford 0-1, Jack Kinlough 0-1.
Louth scorers: Kieran McArdle 0-5 (0-3f), Pearse Grimes Murphy 0-4, James Maguire 0-3 (0-2f).
Meath: Oisin McDermott; Sean O'Hare, Liam Kelly, Killian Smyth; Eamon Armstrong, John O'Regan, Conor Ennis; Jack Kinlough, Charlie O'Connor; Conor Duke, Rian Stafford, Shaun Leonard; Hughie Corcoran, Jamie Murphy, Rian McConnell. Subs: Conor McWeeney for Stafford 34, Tadhg Martyn for Leonard 47, John Harkin for Corcoran 57, Seimi Byrne for O'Hare 62, John Mannion for Smyth 65.
Louth: Cian O'Donoghue; Cormac McKeown, Keelin Martin, Fionn Tipping; Tadhg McDonnell, Aaron McGlew, Cameron Maher; Dara McDonnell, Sean Callaghan; James Maguire, Liam Flynn, Darragh Dorian; Pearse Grimes Murphy, Sean Reynolds, Kieran McArdle. Subs: Ronan Deery for Tipping 18, James Rogers for Dorian 46, Conor McGinty for Flynn 50, Fionn Cummiskey for Callaghan 52, Shane Halpenny for Maguire 59, Tadhg Kellet for Martin 61.
Referee: Dan Stynes (Dublin).