U-21 championship launched by Trevor Giles

Meath will be heading to Parnell Park on Wednesday 2nd March to tackle Dublin in the Leinster u-21 FC quarter-final with manager Sean Barry set to continue his preparations this weekend when the Royal County travel to Longford to play Leitrim in the final of the Hastings Shield.

The game against Leitrim will be played at Pearse Park, subject to the weather conditions, but the Longford venue was unplayable earlier today due to snow.

The official launch of the 2016 EirGrid GAA Football U-21 All-Ireland Championship took place yesterday at Croke Park where John O'Connor (Chairman of EirGrid) met with this year's U-21 ambassadors former Meath footballer and selector Trevor Giles and Tyrone footballer Sean Cavanagh.

Tyrone, the defending champions, were represented at the launch by Frank Burns while Jimmy Feehan was in attendance to represent Tipperary, the beaten All-Ireland finalists and Munster champions.

The 2015 Leinster and Connacht champions Dublin and Roscommon were represented by Eoin Murchan and Cathal Compton respectively.

EirGrid, the state-owned company that manages and develops Ireland's electricity grid, enters its second year of sponsorship of this competition and will continue to promote the Championship. This includes the EirGrid Player of the Month awards, as well as recognising the outstanding players of the Championship through the EirGrid 21 Under 21s initiative, which will be announced at the conclusion of the Championship in May.

The 2016 EirGrid ambassadors, Trevor Giles and Sean Cavanagh, will assist in promoting the competition between February and May.

Trevor and Sean, together with the Gaelic Writers Association, will choose the EirGrid 21 Under 21s as well as participate in initiatives to promote the Championship in the coming months.

LEINSTER U-21 FC FIXTURES

WEDNESDAY 2nd MARCH

Meath v Dublin at Parnell Park.
Wexford or Longford v Westmeath at Wexford or Longford venue.
Kildare v Offaly at Hawkfield.
Louth or Laois v Wicklow or Carlow, TBA.

The first round games will be played on Wednesday 24th February.

If Meath win they will be away to Louth or Laois or Wicklow or Carlow in the semi-final.