Meath’s U-16s went toe-to-toe with a highly fancied Louth side in Millbrook, Oldcastle on Sunday evening and were a whisker away from lifting the Gerry Reilly Cup, only to be pipped in extra-time after a gripping contest that swung right to the end. On a perfect evening for football, the young Royals led at the break and were two points to the good heading into added time, but Louth’s late rally forced the extra twenty minutes, where a crucial two‑pointer proved the difference.

Louth started brightly and twice threatened the net in the opening quarter, rattling the crossbar before Cormac Fitzsimons pulled off a fine save to keep Meath level. John Killoran’s turnover sparked Meath’s big first-half moment, Tomas Dillon finishing smartly on 27 minutes to push Meath in front, and they took a 1-4 to 0-5 lead into the interval.

The Wee County hit the first four points after the restart to edge ahead by the 43rd minute, but Meath answered. Substitute Killian McGivern settled the Royals with a point before Conn Brennan’s deft two‑pointer on 45 minutes swung momentum back our way. Cormac Walsh, a constant threat, tacked on another as Meath drove on.

Louth struck back with a Cillian Duff goal to level it at 1-9 apiece, and while Harris Moffat and Cormac McKenna nudged Meath two clear heading into added time, late efforts from Conor Marron and Connell Kelly dragged Louth level at the whistle to force extra-time.

That extra period was knife‑edge stuff. Kelly’s two‑pointer late in the first half of extra-time opened a three‑point gap, with Louth 1-17 to 1-15 ahead at the turn. Meath chased it to the finish, Walsh clipping the only Meath score of the second period as Louth added three more to stretch clear. Deep in the dying moments Meath had a lifeline, but Daithi Holmes guessed right to save Dillon’s penalty, and with it went Meath’s last chance of a famous comeback.

There was plenty to admire in the game: Walsh’s scoreboard leadership, Dillon’s first‑half goal, Brennan’s key two‑pointer, energetic cameos from the bench, and a defensive shift that stood up to long spells of pressure.

Credit to Louth, worthy winners after a fine final, and for both teams the performance and experience will stand to them.

Padraig McCormack of @dromoneengineeringltd (Sponsors) presented the Man of the match award to Louths’ Finn McEneaney.

Presentation of the Gerry Reilly Cup by the Reilly family to Louth Captain, Josh Gahaya  

Louth: Daithi Holmes (St Patrick’s); Finn McEneaney 0-1 (St Joseph’s), Ollie Walsh (Naomh Mairtin) Calvin Winters (Naomh Mairtin); Jack Ruane (St Kevin’s), Brian O’Neill 0-2 (St Fechin’s), Mathew Kieran (St Joseph’s); Mark Smith (Oliver Plunkett’s), Pauric Maguire 0-2 (John Mitchell’s); Donnacha Reidy (St Joseph’s), Cillian Downey (St Nicholas), Cillian Duff 1-0 (St Fechin’s); Joe Lynch (Geraldines), Connell Kelly 0-11 (Dreadnots), Conor Marron 0-1 (St Mochta’s).

Subs: Dylan Kirwan 0-2 (Dreadnots), Tadhg Moroney 0-1 (Naomh Mairtin), Josh Gahaya (Wolfe Tones).

Meath: Cormac Fitzsimons 0-1 (O’Mahonys); Tomas Clarke (Dunshaughlin), Niall Rogan (St Michael’s), Liam O’Donoghue (St Colmcille’s); Niall Smyth (Skryne), John Killoran (Na Fianna), Conor McTigue (Dunshaughlin); Cormac McKenna 0-1 (Wolfe Tones), Alex Keane (Dunshaughlin); Conn Brennan 0-2 (St Ultan’s), Darragh Wright (Clann na nGael), Thomas McKeever (Wolfe Tones); Cormac Walsh 0-7 (Trim), Tomas Dillon 1-1 (Syddan), Mark Halpin (Oldcastle).

 Subs: Harris Moffat 0-2 (Skryne), Killian McGivern 0-1 (Kilbride), Tomas Proudfoot (St Ultan’s), Milo Stafford 0-1 (Kilmainhamwood), Caolan Comey (Summerhill), Leo Kavanagh (Moynalty), Ryan O’Neill (Simonstown), William Gifford (St Patrick’s).

Referee: Christopher Brady (Monaghan)

What an exciting finish to the Gerry Reilly U16 FT Shield Final in Millbrook on Saturday afternoon.  Cavan were in the driving seat leading by six after Calum Lynch’s converted free to lead 1-17 to1-11 with just five minutes of normal time remaining.  Kildare’s Greg Kelly pointed from a free with 4 minutes left. Kildare failed to convert a 45 and a 2point attempt before Eoghan Lyons got Kildare’s third 2 pointer of the game. Cavan saw their attempt on goal go wide and it still seem to be their game to win. Greg Kelly’s goal as normal time ran out had the sides level and overtime looked certain.  But Kildare had time with Jame Wolfe’s point to snatch victory in injury time.

Cavan had started well in the opening half and had three points on the scoreboard before Kildare’s first point. After fifteen minutes Kildare took the lead after Fionn Stewart Byrne’s goal to lead 1-2 to0-4. but from then on it was Cavan that was in control and added 8 points to their tally and led by 0-12 to 1-4 at the break

A terrific game on football and well done to both teams and augurs well for their futures

Niall Fitzpatrick (Oldcastle GFC) presented the Man of the Match award to Greg Kelly of Castledermot.

Dermot Monaghan (Chairperson, Oldcastle GFC) presented the Gerry Reilly Shield to Kildare Captain, Cian Keogh of Castledermot

Scorers for Kildare: Greg Kelly (1-6  (1f, 2pt, 2ptf)), Fionn Stewart Byrne (1-0), Dylan Daniels, Jame Wolfe & Eoghan Lyon(2pt) (0-2 each), Fionn Lawlor, Eoin Markey & Fiachra Martin(f) (0-1 each)

Scorers for Cavan: Senan Smith (0-6, a 2pt), Exceedingly Imade (1-2), Calum Lynch (0-2,1f), CJ Fitzpatrick, Daire  McCrystal, Simon Kolimar,  Adam Smith & Brian McDermott (0-1 each)

Louth 1-20 Meath 1-16 (after extra tine)  (Sunday, 17 August in Millbrook)

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Gerry Reilly U16 FT Shield Final

Kildare 2-15  Cavan 1-17 (Sat. 16 August 2025 at Millbrook)

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2025 Gerry Reilly Cup Semi-Finals
Louth 0-19 Kildare 0-7

Scorers for Louth: Pauric Maguire, Rian McDonnell and Joe Lynch 0-3 each, Connall Kelly and Anthony Trainor 0-2each, Mark Smith, Calum Winters, Dylan Kirwan, Finn McEneany, Donnacha Reidy and Killian Duff 0-1 each

Scorers for Kildare: Cian Keogh 0-3, Aodhan Bergin 0-2, Aidan Tobin and Eoghan Lyons 0-1 each

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Meath 4-19 Cavan 1-11

Scorers for Meath: Cormac Walsh (2-9,3f), Thomas McKeever (1-0), Ryan O’Neill (1-0), Darragh Wright (0-3), Con Brennan (0-3), Tomás Dillon (0-2), Mark Halpin (0-1). Cormac Fitzsimons (0-1,45)

Scorers for Cavan: Jake Brady (0-1), Dara Eccleston (0-1), Oisín Keegan (0-1), Senan Smith (0-2,2pt), Jay Graham (0-5,2f), Daire McCrystal (1-0), Senan Smith (0-2,2pt), Fiachra McManus (0-1), Jake Brady (0-1), Dara Eccleston (0-1), Oisín Keegan (0-1),

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Winners of the Gerry Reilly Cup to date:

Louth started strongly against the defending champions, Kildare in the first of the Cup Semi-Finals of this year’s Gerry Reilly U16 Football Tournament, played in Millbrook, Oldcastle on Saturday morning. They had four points on the scoreboard before Kildare registered their first from a free and followed up with another point. Louth had goal chances on at least two occasions and could have been much further ahead at the break.

H/T: Louth 0-8 Kildare 0-4

Louth dominated the second half and led 0-15 to 0-4 before Kildare’s first of the half. Kildare never gave up, but they had no answer for a Louth time that excelled on the day.

Scorers for Louth:Pauric Maguire, Rian McDonnell and Joe Lynch 0-3 each, Connall Kelly and Anthony Trainor 0-2each, Mark Smith, Calum Winters, Dylan Kirwan, Finn McEneany, Donnacha Reidy and Killian Duff 0-1 each

Scorers for Kildare: Cian Keogh 0-3,  Aodhan Bergin 0-2, Aidan Tobin and Eoghan Lyons 0-1 each

Meath started brightly in the second of the Cup Semi-Finals of this year’s Gerry Reilly Under-16 Football Tournament, played in Millbrook, Oldcastle, on Saturday afternoon. They opened the scoring with an early goal and quickly followed up with another point from a free. Cavan responded with their first score — a point — but from there, Meath largely dominated the play and went on to lead comfortably at half-time on a scoreline of 1-8 to 0-5.

A poor pass in the Cavan defence led to Meath’s second goal, which opened the scoring in the second half and extended their lead to 2-8 to 0-5. They quickly followed up with three unanswered points before Daire McCrystal struck back for Cavan with a goal, making it 2-12 to 1-5 at that stage.

After that, it was Meath who simply dominated the play, despite Cavan’s best efforts, adding more goals and points to pull well clear. In the end, Meath ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 4-19 to 2-11.

They will now face Louth in the Cup Final on August 17th.

Meath: Cormac Fitzsimons (0-1,45), Tomas Clarke, Niall Rogan, Tom Howley,  Liam O’Donoghue, John Killoran, Conor McTigue, Cormac McKenna, Alex Keane, Niall Smyth, Darragh Wright (0-3), Thomas McKeever (1-0), Cormac Walsh (2-9,3f), Tomas Dillon (0-2), Mark Halpin (0-1)

Subs: William Gifford, Harry McGuirk, Con Brennan (0-3), Ryan O’Neill (1-0), Harris Moffatt

Cavan:  Kevin Heery, Jonah Curran, James McDevitt, Conor O’Reilly, CJ Fitzpatrick, David Liggan, Conor McCabe, Exceed Imade, Jake Brady (0-1),  Ben Stafford, Dara Eccleston (0-1), Oisín Keegan (0-1), Senan Smith (0-2,2pt), Louis Kerrigan, Jay Graham (0-5,2f)

Subs: Evan Lambe,  Patrick Nolan, Brian McDermot, Finn Keaney, Eoin Burns, Daire McCrystal (1-0), Callum Lynch, Oisín Smith, Fiachra McManus (0-1), Daniel Galligan, Ronan Tierney, John Cahill, Leon Gilmartin, Adam Smith, Jack Fallon