Two matches took place on Tuesday evening in the EirGrid Leinster U20 Football Championship. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
EirGrid Leinster U-20 FC quarter-finals
Meath 4-8 Laois 1-10
Louth 2-11 Wicklow 1-9
By Paul Keane
Jamie Murphy netted twice as Meath, All-Ireland minor winners three years ago, came from behind to beat Laois and secure their EirGrid Leinster U-20 FC semi-final spot.
The Royals bounced back from last week's disappointment against Dublin with a strong final few minutes in Ashbourne to secure a flattering seven-point win.
Murphy finished with 2-2 and struck his first goal just 12 seconds into the game after the hosts won the throw-in.
His second three-pointer came in the 13th minute and was a deflected effort but Meath didn't have it all their own way and led by just 2-4 to 1-5 at the break.
Jonah Kelly's 25th minute goal for Laois, and points from free-takers Jamie O'Brien and Cormac Murphy, kept them right in it.
Laois enjoyed a strong third quarter and outscored Meath by 0-5 to 0-2 in that period to take a one-point lead, a gap that remained between them with 11 minutes remaining.
Laois didn't score again though as Meath turned on the afterburners and reeled off 2-2 without response to march through to a last four date with Kildare next Tuesday.
Rian McConnell's 49th minute goal for Meath, the hosts' third, was the key score and came following an interception on the Laois kick-out.
Sub Hughie Corcoran, part of that All-Ireland minor winning group under Cathal O Bric in 2021, added a point from a free before Conor McWeeney fisted another over.
Meath were four clear now and glossed the scoreline with a stoppage time fourth goal from Eamonn Armstrong.
It was a similar story in Darver where Louth thrilled their home supporters with a terrific final few minutes to see off Wicklow and secure their own semi-final place.
Louth trailed by three points with 48 minutes on the clock but scored 1-5 without response from a shell-shocked Wicklow to set up a semi-final date with Dublin.
That game will be at Parnell Park next Tuesday and Louth will have it all to do against the table toppers but they have a starman in Kieran McArdle.
He finished with 1-7 and his 19th minute goal helped Louth to lead by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time.
Wicklow tipped the scales with a brilliant third quarter but a second Louth goal, from Pearse Grimes Murphy, was followed up with five McArdle points in a row to ease the Wee County through to a first semi-final at the grade in 12 years.