Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship

Kildare 3-15 Offaly 2-11

Laois 2-12 Longford 1-2

Dublin 1-15 Louth 1-10

Westmeath 0-10 Meath 2-10

Wexford 1-10 Carlow 1-7

Reigning champions Dublin began their Leinster minor defence with a well earned victory over Louth in Parnell Park. Despite the five point winning margin, the contest was a close and pulsating one.

Kilmacud Croke wing forward Noah Byrne gave the hosts the perfect start with an opening minute goal but Louth fought back in between and fired over the last four points of the pulsating affair.

When Shane Lennon, brother of Louth senior Craig found the net for Louth in the 47th minute there was only a single point between the sides. Dublin calmly went about their business with top scorer on the night, Lenny Cahill, pulling them across the line with seven points on the night.

Elsewhere in Group 2, Meath beat neighbours Westmeath thanks to a pair of well taken Ben Corkery goals. The Clann na Gael youngster’s second half goal sealed the tie.

Wexford held off neighbours Carlow’s late rally to open their campaign with a three point win. The Barrowsiders scrambled home a late goal but Shane Reddy closed the game out for the winners after Darren Rossiter gave the young yellow bellies the perfect start.|

Laois were in control most of the night in O’Moore park. David Donohoe with the opening goal of the one sided affair while Patrick Mollahan scored what turned out to be a consolation for Longford in the 18th minute. Jamilio Salvador closed out the victory for the midlanders.

Tadhg Donlan sent Kildare on their way to a seven point triumph at home against 14 man Offaly. Despite Cian Keaveny quickly adding another major, the visitors rallied back before the interval with a Fionn Carney free and well taken Cillian Bourke goal.

Bourke found the net again to close the gap to two points but Kildare and Jack McCabe found the net to finish stronger.