U20s round-up: Meath win again, Donegal impress

Leinster

In Round 2 of the Leinster Under-20 football championship, Kildare crushed Carlow by 20 points, Louth ensured they will top Group Two with victory over Wicklow while there were wins elsewhere for Dublin and Meath.

Laois and Wexford played out a draw after the O'Moore County rallied from a 10-point interval deficit at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

Carlow, edged out by Wexford in their opening game, were comprehensively beaten in Newbridge.

First-half goals from Ben Loakman and Ross Harris ensured the hosts led 2-16 to 0-09 at the break, while further green flags from Eoin Cully and Jimmy Lynch saw the Lillies cruise home.

Michael McIvor was a central figure in Meath’s early scoring blitz as the Royals make it back-to-back wins with a seven-point victory over Westmeath in Kinnegad.

The powerful midfielder hit half a dozen points - five of those in the first 11 minutes as Meath strode into a 0-10 to no score lead – en route to the Group 1 success.

Westmeath improved after the break, but the loss of substitute Tom Bourke to a second yellow card and some wayward shooting meant they were always at arm’s length.

Dublin bounced back from their opening defeat to Meath to see off hosts Offaly at the Faithful Fields training centre.

Joe Quigley and Paddy Kelly raised the green flags for Dublin, who only led by the bare minimum at the break, and only sealed the deal with Kelly’s 56th-minute goal after Offaly had reduced the gap down to three.

Ulster

Donegal booked their place in the Ulster semi-finals with a 3-16 to 0-17 win over All-Ireland champions Tyrone at Ballybofey, a result which means the Red Hands will have to negotiate a quarter-final in order to continue the defence of their title.

Mark McDevitt struck for the only goal of the first half as Donegal led by eight at the break.

The hosts were clinical in front of goals, with Dylan Mulholland's strike rounding off their goalscoring form on the night in the 60th minute.

Down hit Antrim for five goals as they picked up their first win, while Derry made it two wins from two in Group A with a 3-21 to 1-10 demolition of Monaghan at Owenbeg.

Cavan edged out Armagh by 3-16 to 1-19 in a Kingspan Breffni Park thriller.

Connacht

Sligo hit a late winner at Markievicz Park to condemn Galway to their second defeat of this year's Connacht Under-20 championship, while Mayo blitzed Leitrim at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

Sligo led at the break, but the game swung back and forth. Galway, the 2022 All-Ireland minor champions, looked to be seizing the initiative when Sean O’Connor goaled, but the Yeats County responded as the sides were level coming down the stretch.

Dillon Walsh proved to be the match-winner as his late effort proved decisive.

It was in sharp contrast to matters in Castlebar, where Mayo raced into a 1-06 to 0-00 lead and never took the foot off the gas.

Darragh Beirne came off the bench for the home side to hit 2-02 as they coasted home with 23 points to spare.

Munster Under-20 Hurling Championship

In Round 2 of the Munster championship, Tipperary and Clare got their first wins on the board, beating Cork and Waterford respectively

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