Meath advance to the Gerry Reilly Leinster U16 Cup Final

Monday, August 5th, 2019

Meath 4-17 Cill Dara 0-15
After a beautiful day, the rain came just at the wrong time for the Briody Sponsored Gerry Reilly Leinster U16 Cup Semi-Final played in Oldcastle on Sunday evening. The weather did not take away from a keenly fought encounter, with a place in the Cup final at stake.
It was Meath that made a great start with points from Eoghan Frayne (f) and Adam McDonnell. Oisin Tighe pointed for Cill Dara before Ciaran Caulfield got Meath’s first goal. Meath went on to lead at the break by 1-9 to 0-5.
Cill Dara upped their game on the restart with 3 unanswered points (Shane Farrell & Adam Fanning (2)) They were exerting a lot of pressure on Meath, but Meath then reeled off 4 points to stretch their lead again.
2 Meath goals in quick succession (Alan Bowden & Aaron Murphy) gave them a lead of 3-13 to 0-11 at this stage.
Cill Dara were thwarted by 2 incredible saves by the Meath ‘keeper, Adam Niven that otherwise would have made the result much closer in the end.

Kathryn Cooke (Briody Bedding – Sponsors of the tournament) presented Meath’s, Cian Smyth with the ‘Man of the match’ award.

Meath play Dublin in the Gerry Reilly Leinster U16 Cup Final on Sunday evening, 18 August in Millbrook, Oldcastle, while Cill Dara play Down in the Gerry Reilly Leinster U16 Plate Final on Saturday, 17 August in Millbrook, Oldcastle

Scorers for Meath: Eoghan Frayne (1-10, 7f), Aaron Murphy & Ciaran Caulfield (1-1 each), .Alan Bowden 1-0, John McDonagh 0-3; Zack McGovern & Adam McDonnell (0-1) each

Scorers for Cill Dara: Adam Fanning (0-5, ; Ben Fitzsimons(2f), Shane Farrell), Oisin O’Sullivan & Oisin Tighe ( 0-2) each, Daniel Farrell & Michael O’Connor (0-1) each

Meath U16’s and Management showing their support for ‘Aoife’s Army’ before the start of the match in their warmup. Aoife was a member of this year’s successful Meath Ladies U16’s

Meath: Adam Niven Simonstown, Ben Moran Summerhill, Sean O’Donoghue St Colmcilles (Capt), Godfrey Ehichoya St Colmcilles, Ben Donnelly Kilbride, Oisin Kelly Ratoath, Cian Smyth Ratoath, Conor Gray Dunsaughlin, Luca Brady Cortown/St Ultans, Ciaran Caulfield Trim, Zack McGovern Kilbride, Adam McDonnell Summerhill, Alan Bowden Duleek/Bellewstown, Eoghan Frayne Summerhill, Aaron Murphy Dunsaughlin

Subs: John McDonagh Dunsaughlin, Mark Coffey Ballinabrackey,, Fursey Blake Dunsaughlin, Luke Caffrey Simonstown, Oisin Keogh Skyrne, Ruairi Kinsella Dunsaughlin, Cathal Darby Seneschalstown, Andrew McWeeney Kilbride, Shane McCarthy O’Mahonys, Adam Daly St Colmcilles, Oisin Bright Na Fianna, Luke Hannon St Colmcilles, Daniel Flanagan Dunboyne, Michael Hillard Cortown/St Ultans, Kian Lynch Moynalty

Cill Dara: Cormac Barker Kilcullen, Fionn O’Giollion Maynooth, James McGrath Athy, Fionn Tully Raheens, Luke Killian Sallins, Cian O’Neill Maynooth, 3Conor Martin Suncroft, Shane Farrell Kilcock, Conor Lonergan Fr Prendergast Geals, Darragh Swords Newtown Geals, Calum Bolton Sarsfields, Ben Fitzsimons Eadestown, Oisin O’Sullivan Clane, Óisin Tighe Clane, Adam Fanning Clane
Subs: Joe Barrett Newtown Gaels, Elliot Byrne Nass, Daniel Farrell Balyna, Sean Furlong Kilcullen, Joe Ledwitch Leixlip, Aaron McNally Ballyna, Rory Moran Alymer Gaels, Micheal O’Connor St Edwards, Harry O’Neill Clane, Alex O’Shea Moorefield, Oisin O’Sullivan Clane, Jack Rodgers Naas

Ref: Noel Hand (Louth)