Round-up: Dalata Hotel Group Leinster U-20 FC

Dalata Hotel Group, Leinster U-20 football championship, Round 2

Group 1

Louth 2-13 Dublin 1-13

Westmeath 1-14 Wexford 2-8

Group 2

Longford 2-20 Carlow 1-13

Meath 3-12 Laois 0-10

Group 3

Kildare 1-17 Offaly 1-12

By Paul Keane

Senior star Padraic Tinnelly struck the crucial goal as Dalata Hotel Group Leinster U-20 FC title holders Louth made it back to back wins.

Fresh off their big win over Westmeath in Round 1, the Wee County led hosts Dublin from start to finish at Parnell Park.

In what was a significant statement of provincial intent, Louth led by four points at half time and surged seven clear after Tinnelly's 56th minute goal.

Tinnelly was a key figure in last year's march to provincial success and the All-Ireland final against Tyrone.

He has been involved in the senior team's Division 2 campaign this season and, having been named as a late addition to the line up here, crashed home their second goal.

Louth were equally grateful to goalkeeper Tiarnan Markey, another player with senior experience, as his save from Rian Doherty shortly after the Tinnelly goal was huge.

Dublin did manage to grab a goal late on when Donach Magee brought his tally for the evening to 1-2.

And a Doherty two-pointer that bounced over the ball cut the deficit to just three points.

Doherty had a chance right at the death to level it after being played in on the left but struck his shot into the side netting as Louth held on.

The win leaves Louth top of Group 1 while Westmeath have joined Dublin in joint second spot after beating Wexford.

Meath, beaten in last year's Leinster final, are top of Group 2 after another big win, this time taking out Laois with goals from Cormac O'Donoghue, Ben Corkery and Pat Crawley.

Cathal O Bric's Royals hammered Carlow last week though only led by 2-4 to 0-7 at half time in Ashbourne.

But they dominated the second half, outscoring Laois by 1-8 to 0-3 in the period with Cian Commons, John Harkin and powerful midfielder Michael McIvor scoring points.

Longford built on a three-point half-time lead in the other Group 2 game to run out 10-point winners against Carlow.

Longford's first goal after 25 minutes came from a penalty and Luke Donnelly converted the second early in the second half.

Jamie Coakley hit the Carlow goal in the opening quarter after a terrific surge out of defence by Ross Moran.

Kildare have finished top of the three-team Group 3 after winning both of their matches - so qualify for a quarter final.

After overcoming Wicklow at their ease, Kildare hit Offaly hard and early and opened up a 0-12 to 0-2 lead after 25 minutes.

Dylan Dunne's goal for Offaly gave them some hope and when Offaly converted back-to-back two-pointers after the restart the gap was down to just three points at 0-14 to 1-8.

But points from Athy duo Colm Moran and Ronan Kelly helped Kildare to turn the screw and maintain their 100 percent record.