Leinster MFC: Doran the Kildare hero, Meath too strong for Dublin

Conn Brennan of Meath. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Jack Doran was the Kildare hero with the killer goal in Ardee to set up a Leinster MFC final clash with Meath.

The young Lilywhites were never behind against 2025 provincial finalists Louth at the Hunterstown Rovers club just outside Ardee.

But they also struggled to shake off a talented young Louth team led again in attack by Connell Kelly and were relieved to win by 1-11 to 0-10.

Kelly, son of former Louth forward and senior manager Colin Kelly, nailed five points for the hosts who were level with just eight minutes of normal time remaining.

But Doran's well-worked 52nd-minute goal put Kildare into a lead they held onto and embellished with late points from Logan Tennyson and Fiachra Martin.

Kildare have already won the Leinster U-20 title so are on the verge of an impressive double of provincial underage titles ahead of Friday week's final clash with Trevor Giles' Royals.

Kildare lost to Louth in Hawkfield in Group 1 last month but seized the initiative early on this time with the first three points of the game.

Eoghan Lyons, Páidí Ryan and Jack Reilly were all the mark though a trademark two-point free from Kelly levelled it up for Louth at 0-4 apiece.

Reilly and Donnacha Reidy traded points to leave the teams locked on 0-5 apiece at the interval.

Kildare won the third quarter to move three points clear before being reeled in again by Louth scores from Cillian Duff and Brian O'Neill.

But Louth, who blasted 15 wides on a gusty evening in the north east, could never get their noses in front and when Doran netted it gave the visitors a vital cushion.

Aidan Tobin and Cian Kehoe also weighed in with crucial scores for a stylish young Kildare team.

Meath will attempt to deny Kildare a first title since 2019 and to secure what would be a first provincial triumph for themselves since the Cathal Ó Bric-managed side of 2021, who went on to win that season's All-Ireland.

They lost twice in Group 1, including a five-point home defeat to Kildare, but have bounced back impressively since then with wins over Laois, Wicklow, and Offaly before seeing off Dublin 2-14 to 2-8 at Parnell Park.

In those four games, Meath have scored a whopping 19 goals and their latest two majors were tucked away by Milo Stafford and Cormac McKenna.

Stafford, nephew of county great Brian, was the team's talisman again in attack and finished with 1-4 while McKenna struck 1-1. Captain Harry McGuirk and Conn Brennan split six points evenly between each other.

Dublin had home advantage at the north Dublin venue and led 1-3 to 0-2 thanks in part to Patrick Cahill's 16th minute palmed goal.

But the Stafford and McKenna goals arrived in quick succession and helped Meath to lead by 2-4 to 1-3 at half time.

Dublin restarted with points from Mo Salami, Max Morrison and James McCaghy and led 2-7 to 2-6 when Eoghan Madden scored their second goal.

But a terrific two-pointer from team skipper McGuirk ignited wind-assisted Meath who powered on from there with sub Leo Kavanagh among their late scorers.