Meath U20 manager Cathal Ó Bric. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Dalata Hotel Group Leinster U20 Football Championship quarter-finals
Meath 0-20 Wexford 2-10
Dublin 1-19 Wicklow 0-17
By Paul Keane
Holders Meath will join Dublin in tomorrow morning's draw for the semi-finals of the Dalata Hotel Group Leinster U-20 FC.
But both the Royal County and record winners Dublin lived on their wits at times this evening before eventually pulling through their respective quarter-final ties.
Cathal O Bric's Meath, back up to full strength after fielding a second string team in their dead rubber final round group game against Offaly, were level seven times with Wexford.
In fact, the hosts trailed by a point with just 11 minutes remaining in Ashbourne as a spirited Wexford threatened a major upset.
Powerful full-forward Rory Gilbert fisted a Wexford goal in the 47th minute to leave the Model County 1-10 to 0-12 up having earlier led by 0-8 to 0-7 at half-time.
Meath's response was impressive and ultimately secured the win as they reeled off eight points without response, a blitz of scoring that included two-pointers from Rian Stafford, John Harkin and big midfielder Michael McIvor.
Ben Corkery was also on the mark and stood up impressively on a night when Meath didn't always have their A game.
Jason Sheridan finished off a well worked move for Wexford's second goal deep into stoppage time at the Donaghmore Ashbourne grounds, reducing the gap to four points.
Like Meath, Dublin were installed as favourites against Wicklow, but fell four points down early on following Wicklow scores from their leading attacker Ryan Harrisson and Alex Kavanagh.
A strong Dublin period between the 15th and and 23rd minutes yielded eight points and helped the 2020 champions to lead by 0-13 to 0-8 at half-time.
But with Harrisson terrific on the long-range frees for Wicklow - he drilled four two-pointers in the second-half - the Garden County dramatically roared back to level terms at 0-15 apiece.
Dublin saved a strong kick for the last lap and back-to-back scores from free-taker Joe Quigley were followed by a crucial Paddy Kelly goal in the 50th minute.
Substitute James McCormack weighed in with a point too as Dublin turned the screw.
Louth and Kildare had already qualified for Leinster's last four as Group 2 and Group 3 winners respectively. They will be joined by Dublin and Meath in an open semi-final draw at 11am tomorrow morning.
