LEINSTER UNDER 21 ‘A’ HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
MEATH 3-18 LOUTH 2-4
With most attention centred around Pairc Tailteann in Navan and the clash of Meath and Louth in the Leinster Minor Football Championship semi final, the same two counties faced up to each other in Darver on Wednesday evening (June 29) in the Leinster U21 ‘A’ hurling championship. For supporters of the Wee County the result was the same with Meath proving too strong running out winners by 17 points.

The Meath full forward line proved a handful for the home defence throughout, notching up between them 3-11 of their sides total. The visitors had two points on the scoreboard before they grabbed the games first goal on 6 minutes when Derek Doran netted from close range. Louth opened their account two minutes later when Domhnall McArdle pointed from a long range free. However Meath continued to dominate and they grabbed a further four answered points before corner forward Malcolm Doyle fired home their second goal on 21 minutes. Louth followers were
able to cheer a goal of their own when Cathal Ryan got through to fire past Shane McGann a minute later. Meath kept the scoreboard ticking over with five more points before the break in between which Gary O Brien struck over a rare point for Louth.
Half time : Meath 2-11 Louth 1-2.

The home side did manage the opening score on the resumption when Domhnall McArdle was on target again from a long range free. Meath however continued to create the better scoring chances accounting for 1-4 between the 34th and 43rd minutes with Derek Doran grabbing his second goal of the match. The sides then exchanged points before Louth grabbed a consolation goal from the stick of senior panellist Peter Brennan on 53 minutes. The Royal county sealed a comfortable win with late points from substitute Tom Raleigh and top scorer Doran.

Meath : Shane McGann; Fergal O Neill, Eoin Lynch, Darren Tormay; Shane Brennan, Willie Mahady, Conor O Shea; Francis Doran (0-3), Ray Hatton; Danny Maguire, Eoin Marsh (0-1), Gary Kelly (0-2); Malcolm Doyle (1-1), Keith Keoghan (0-8), Derek Doran (2-2).
Subs – David Farrell for F O Neill, Ryan Andrews for C O Shea, Tom Raleigh (0-1) for M Doyle, Andrew Byrne for G Kelly, Padraig Kelly for S Brennan.

Louth : David Stephenson; Liam O Leary, David Deane, Ricky McKeown; Oisin Drumm, Domhnall McArdle (0-2), Daire McKiernan (0-1); Gerard McKeown, Graham Condon; Gary O Brien (0-1), Cathal Ryan (1-0), Edward Condon; Gavin Kerrigan, Peter Brennan (1-0), Liam Blundell.
Subs – Conor Deane for E Condon, Donal Griffin for L Blundell.
Referee : Derek Heffernan (Westmeath).

[Report: Maurice Murphy]