Louth have no answer to Meath’s quality in Leinster U20 final at Parnell Park

Fergal Reel’s side were in the hunt for a first provincial title since 1981 until a closing quarter collapse capped a miserable night in Donnycarney, where the Royals ended a 23-year wait on a victory at this grade.

While Meath got goals at crucial stages, Louth were second best for the majority of the contest. Too many of their key players failed to deliver the performances required and aside from Tadhg McDonnell, Pearse Grimes-Murphy, Aaron McGlew and Kieran McArdle, the Reds didn’t compete as the auld enemy held a greater influence over all sectors of the pitch, including, crucially, at midfield.

Meath were deservedly ahead at half-time having taken a grip of proceedings during the second quarter especially. Powerful wing-back Armstrong burst through on 23 minutes to score the game’s opening goal and it was that register which separated the sides at the interval, 1-6 to 0-6.

The Duleek-Bellewstown clubman got away from his marker, Liam Flynn, more often as the first period progressed, though the decision to task Grimes-Murphy with curbing his influence wasn’t the shrewdest as while the Louth star bagged three points from play in the second half, he hadn’t the physical or instinctive attributes to handle Armstrong.

Meanwhile, Murphy, who was a star for DkIT’s freshers in recent months, was absolutely lethal and possessed far too much for those whose job it was to nullify him. From the moment he struck through the ball to open the scoring on five minutes, he was a class apart, closing with a personal haul of 1-5, 1-3 of which was from play

Yet after a shaky start, in which Meath led by two, Louth converted on four successive occasions with McArdle and Grimes-Murphy delivering spectacularly.

But with a combination of Jack Kinlough, Charlie O’Connor and Conor Duke assuming authority in the middle, the Royals started to lift the pace and edged two in front with a four-point sequence of their own prior to Armstrong’s major.

Louth responded encouragingly either side of the interval, reducing their arrears to two, but Murphy’s goal was a decisive blow. It emanated from a kickout which saw Duke and John O’Regan channel the ball the way of Armstrong who blazed through and found Murphy, whose conversion to the roof of the net was emphatic.

While the Reds didn’t give in entirely, their challenge was deflated and though McArdle and Grimes-Murphy continued to score, Meath were relentless – Armstrong especially. They had already pushed seven in front by the time Tadhg Martyn marked his introduction with a well-taken goal.

Ultimately, this is a good Louth team that came up against All-Ireland champion quality – Meath having started nine of the side that delivered their minor crown in 2021 – but their failure to perform on the big occasion will sting, even if the Royals were on top form.

LOUTH: Cian O’Donoghue; Cameron Maher, James Maguire 0-3 (2f), Fionn Tipping; Tadhg McDonnell, Keelan Martin, Cormac McKeown; Dara McDonnell, Seán Callaghan; Pearse Grimes-Murphy 0-4, Seán Reynolds, Liam Flynn; Aaron McGlew, Kieran McArdle 0-5 (3f), Darragh Dorian. Subs: Ronan Deery for Tipping (18), James Rogers for Dorian (46), Conor McGinty for Flynn (50), Fionn Cumiskey for Callaghan (53), Shane Halpenny for Maguire (59), Tadhg Kellett for Martin (60).

MEATH: Oisín McDermott; Conor Ennis, Seán O’Hare, John O’Regan; Eamonn Armstrong 1-2, Liam Kelly 0-2, Killian Smyth; Jack Kinlough 0-1, Charlie O’Connor; Rían McConnell, Rían Stafford 0-1, Shaun Leonard; Hughie Corcoran 0-2 (1f), Conor Duke, Jamie Murphy 1-5 (0-2f). Subs: Conor McWeeney for Stafford (34), Tadhg Martin 1-0 for Leonard (47), John Harkin for Corcoran (57), Seímí Byrne for O’Hare (60), John Mannion for Smyth (60).

REFEREE: Dan Stynes (Dublin).