Meath claim Leinster JFC title

Meath won the Leinster JFC title today at Croke Park for the first time since 2006 with an emphatic 0-19 to 0-10 victory against neighbours Louth in what was a one-sided encounter as the Royal County claimed a 17th provincial title.

The victory earns Meath a place in the All-Ireland JFC semi-final on Saturday 22nd July against Kilkenny, London or Warwickshire.

Louth started positively with a point from William Woods, but that was as good as it got for the men from the Wee County who also lost the influential David Quigley to a 24th minute red card.

Meath missed early and later first-half goal chances as the points flowed from Daire Rowe (five), Kevin Ross and James Conlon (three each), Paddy Kennelly (two) and David Toner.

Meath added five second-half points with Conlon, Kennelly, Ben Brennan and Michael Flood sending over soon after the resumption before substitute Neil Shortall closed Meath's account.

Louth finished with a bit of a flourish that added a touch of respectability to the scoreboard.

Meath - Johnny Lynch; Adam Lynch, Luke Moran, Michael Flood (0-1); David Toner (0-1), Joe Sweeney, Kevin Traynor; Adam Flanagan, Conor Farrell; Paddy Kennelly (0-3), Ben Brennan (0-1), Cathal McConnell; James Conlon (0-4), Daire Rowe (0-5), Kevin Ross (0-3). Subs - Stephen Coogan for Conlon, Neil Shortall for McConnell, Declan Smyth for Traynor, William Carry for Brennan, Jamie Reilly for A Lynch, Ciaran O'Rourke for Toner.

Referee - Fergus Barry (Kildare).