EirGrid Leinster U-20 football championship semi-finals

DUBLIN 0-14 MEATH 0-10

KILDARE 1-20 LAOIS 0-9

By Paul Keane at Pairc Tailteann, Navan

A commanding second-half performance elevated Dublin to victory over old rivals Meath, securing a 10th consecutive EirGrid Leinster U-20 final spot for Jim Lehane's side.

Under pressure initially against a Meath team possessing many players who had been successful at minor level, the Dubs eventually got on top and didn't let up with Ross Keogh their leading marksman.

The St Sylvesters forward contributed five points on the evening and helped propel Dublin through to a final clash with Kildare at Netwatch Cullen Park next Tuesday evening - a repeat of last year's decider.

Dublin's hopes of making up for the two-point defeat 12 months ago haven't been helped by injuries suffered by key attacker Luke Breathnach and defender Eoghan O'Connor Flanagan. Both players were lifted off with leg injuries in Navan.

Alex Gavin had a strong game for Dublin too while midfielder Greg McEneaney, who featured twice for the Dublin seniors in the Allianz League, dropped deep when required to shore up a defence that conceded just five points from play overall.

Meath understandably fancied their chances beforehand with a team composed largely of Leinster minor title winners from 2020 and 2021.

With many of the same players lining out back then, the Royals beat Dublin convincingly in the 2021 provincial minor final and went on to win the All-Ireland that year.

They were the better side initially at the upper grade this time and should have been further than 0-6 to 0-5 ahead after 25 minutes.

Captain and free-taker Eoghan Frayne slotted three points while Shaun Leonard, who memorably kicked the winning point in that 2021 All-Ireland decider, added another.

Ciaran Caulfield, impressive for Meath in last week's quarter-final defeat of Westmeath, had a half chance for a goal as did Oisin Keogh.

Dublin were dealt a substantial blow when Breathnach was carried off with a leg injury after 17 minutes.

The Ballinteer St John's attacker had scored Dublin's second point, bringing his tally to 0-13 for the campaign, though Joe Quigley at least proved a reliable replacement with three points before the break.

An improved Dublin outscored Meath by 0-4 to 0-1 in the 10 or so minutes before the interval to take a 0-8 to 0-6 lead.

There was a second injury setback for Dublin in the third quarter when defender O'Connor Flanagan was also carried off.

Crucially, it didn't affect them on the scoreboard and a three-in-a-row of Keogh points propelled the visitors into a 0-12 to 0-8 lead at the three quarter mark.

Four Dublin points in a row from Keogh, sub Seamus Smith and Ethan Dunne between the 41st and 52nd minutes ultimately settled it.

Meanwhile, Eoin Cully struck 1-6 for Kildare who outscored Laois by 1-8 to 0-1 in the closing 20 minutes or so to win at their ease.

Ryan Sinkey, Shane Farrell and Adam Fanning weighed in with three points apiece as the Lilies built on a 0-9 to 0-4 half-time lead to win by an impressive 14 points.

Scorers for Dublin: Ross Keogh 0-5 (0-4f), Joe Quigley 0-3 (0-2f), Conor Dolan 0-2, Darragh Dempsey 0-1 (0-1f), Luke Breathnach 0-1, Seamus Smith 0-1, Ethan Dunne 0-1.

Scorers for Meath: Eoghan Frayne 0-5 (0-4f, 0-1m), Shaun Leonard 0-1, Conor Gray 0-1, Jack Kinlough 0-1, Con Smith 0-1, Hughie Corcoran 0-1.

Dublin: Andrew Smyth; Evan Nugent, Theo Clancy, Eoghan O'Connor Flanagan; Dara McGrath, Dan O'Leary, Alex Gavin; Ethan Dunne, Greg McEneaney; Conor Dolan, Luke Ward, Tom Brennan; Ross Keogh, Luke Breathnach, Darragh Dempsey.

Subs: Joe Quigley for Breathnach 17, Michael McDonald for Brennan h/t, Seamus Smith for O'Connor Flanagan 39, Bill Costello for Quigley 60.

Meath: Billy Hogan; Liam Kelly, Brian O'Halloran, John Finnerty; Killian Smyth, Brian O'Reilly, John O'Regan; Jack Kinlough, Conor Gray; Liam Stafford, Shaun Leonard, Ciaran Caulfield; Eoghan Frayne, Oisin Keogh, Alan Bowden.

Subs: Ruairi Kinsella for Leonard 38, Con Smith for Stafford 48, Hughie Corcoran for Kinsella 54, Conor Ennis for Bowden 54.

Referee: David Hickey (Carlow).