U20 round-up: Louth stun Dubs, Meath dethrone Kildare

Louth and Meath will contest the Leinster U20 football final after an evening of surprises in the province.

Fergal Reel's Louth side stunned Dublin in Parnell Park, while Meath de-throned reigning champions Kildare in Hawkfield.

In Donnycarney, the visitors were leading 0-04 to 0-02 after 13 minutes when Sean Reynolds' skied shot dropped short, goalkeeper David Leonard lost track of the flight of the ball and it wound up in the net.

The Dubs narrowed the gap to two by half-time, Luke O'Boyle subsequently rattling the net following a counter-attack to level the game with 20 minutes remaining.

However, from there, Louth mounted a winning surge, hitting the next five points on the trot with scores from Tadhg McDonnell (x2), Cameron Maher, Dara McDonnell and Kieran McArdle.

While scores from Joe Quigley and Karl Flynn brought it back to a one-score game, an injury-time McArdle made sure of the win for Louth on a 1-13 to 1-09 scoreline, sealing a first Leinster final appearance in 12 years.

They will face Meath in the provincial decider after they ended Kildare's reign as All-Ireland champions in Manguard Park.

Two goals either side of the half-time set Meath on the road to victory. Wing-back Eamon Armstrong was instrumental in both goals, finding the net himself on the stroke of half-time to leave them 1-05 to 0-06 ahead.

Immediately upon the resumption, Armstrong was found in an advanced position, laying the ball off to Sean O'Hare to finish.

Colm Dalton and Mark Gibbons responded with points to narrow it to a three-point game but that was as close as Kildare came.

Hughie Corcoran, Jamie Murphy, Conor Duke and Killian Smyth tagged on points as Meath held the champions at arm's length, running out 2-09 to 0-10 winners.