The journey for the 2021 minors is over after falling to 2020 and 2021 Leinster champions Meath who were deserving winners on the day in Kingspan Breffni Park. Sligo, after a good opening 10 minutes had a bad middle 20 minutes where they found it very hard to win their own kickout and get past halfway, the disappointing thing is when they did it looked like damage could be done. On a very greasy surface which was not surprising to the large Sligo contingent who saw many the flood on the roads to the game, the Sligo lads lost too many balls in the tackle on an afternoon where possession of the ball was key.

A set play from Meath from the throw in of both halves saw the ball booted into the full forward line, and in the first half it resulted in a quick score for Christian Finlay. It took 4 minutes for Sligo to register their first score from a Luke Marren free after Josh Flynn was fouled. Marren was impeccable from frees throughout the day. From the resulting kickout James Donlon went on a mazy run and after a one two drove a low drive across the goal leaving the keeper standing frozen but it went by the post and wide. Marren scored from play in the 7^th minute to put Sligo in front for the only time in the game, after good work from Flynn and Dillon Walsh. Dylan McLaughlin was cleaning up around centre back up to this point but Meath pushed a man up onto the Curry man which diluted his defensive influence. In the 9^th minute Meath midfielder Wilson a grandson of Cavans famous All Ireland multiple winner John Wilson, drove through the centre of the Sligo defence, passed off to Finlay who drove the ball into the net off the far post from Kyle Davey.

Meath pushed on with two quick scores from defensive mistakes with a Shane Leonard from play and Hughie Corcoran free, extending the lead. Marren responded after Donlon was taken out of it trying to play a one two but at the water break Meath were 4 up as Meath keeper Oisin McDermott scored a 45. In the next 7 minutes Meath tacked on 4 more scores with Finlay, Corcoran, Tomás Corbett and Oisín Ó Murchú adding points before Marren struck a free over after Flynn was pushed in the back. A bad Meath kickout was won by Sligo and the quick ball in saw Marren through on goal where he was taken down. Brian Duffy drove the penalty to the top right to narrow gap to 4 but Meath again took a grip with the final 3 points from Leonard, Finlay and Conor Ennis to lead 1-11 v 1-4.

O’Murchú got his second of the game after the break but Mark McDaniel responded from play for Sligo. Conor McWeeney got another for Meath from the left, but the referee was called in by the umpires and this resulted in full forward O’Murchú being sent to the line. It was a measure of the strength of the Meath team that for most of the remaining 25 minutes it was barely noticeable. Corcoran scored a free and the Sligo task was in a worse position than at halftime as they now trailed by 9.

Marren was fouled and scored right after the break but by the 52^nd minute we were still struggling when Kyle Mullen was taken down for Marren to narrow to 7. In the 54^th minute Jack McGovern scored as good a goal as he is ever likely too when taking an excellent pass from Donlon after breaking up a Meath attack. Sligo had two chances after but did not get their shots off to narrow it. After breaking up a Meath counter attack the greasy conditions saw the ball spill as the Sligo defenders went on the attack , the loose ball found John Mannion who snuck the ball in under Davey. In fairness to the Sligo lads they did not give up and Conor Mcmorrow scored a good long range effort followed by a Brian Duffy free in the 59^th minute. At this stage the floodlights should have been put on as it was near impossible to see with the driving rain and the black clouds overhead. The conditions worked to Meaths advantage as quick handpassing on the run was a lottery and allowed Meath to break up a number of promising moves.

In the 64^th minute referee Paul Faloon blew the final whistle on Sligo’s 2021 minor odyssey. The panel and management were afforded a well deserved standing ovation from the huge Sligo crowd in attendance. Whatever happens now this group have given the county a great summer and of course ended the 53 year wait for a Connacht title at this grade. Paul and his management team, along the players and the players families have put in a huge effort over the last number of years and this should not be underestimated by anyone.

Scorers

Sligo – Luke Marren 0-6(5f), Brian Duffy 1-1(1pen, 1f), Jack McGovern 1-0, Mark McDaniel, Conor McMorrow 0-1 each.

Meath – Christian Finlay 1-3, Hughie Corcoran 0-3(2f), John Mannion 1-0, Shane Leonard, Oisín Ó Murchú 0-2 each, Oisín McDermott, Tomás Corbett, Conor Ennis, Conor McWeeney 0-1 each

Sligo – Kyle Davey, Ronan O’Hehir, Conor Johnston, Robert O’Kelly Lynch, Dillon Walsh, Dylan McLoughlin, James Donlon, Ross Doherty, Conor Sheridan, Mark McDaniel, Ronan Niland, Stephen Rogan, Luke Marren, Joshua Flynn, Brian Duffy

Subs –Tommy Ross for Rogan, Jack McGovern for Niland,  Kyle Mullen for Sheridan, Stephen Donoghue for Flynn, Conor McMorrow for McDaniel