Meath 2-16
Offaly 1-10
SEAMUS MATTIMOE LED a second-half scoring spree as Meath came from behind at Parnell Park to book their first Cadbury Leinster U21 final place in 13 years.
The Gaeil Colmcille man was a replacement for Meath’s high profile cruciate knee ligament victim, Eamon Wallace, and took his chance superbly with seven points.
Meath trailed by one at half-time, 0-8 to 1-6, against a determined Offaly side who’d beaten Wexford and a fancied Kildare outfit to reach the semi-finals.
But four Mattimoe points in a row in the third quarter opened up a two-point lead for Meath.
And when Ratoath club man Bryan McMahon fisted in a 44th minute goal from close range following good work by Mattimoe in the build up, they moved into pole position with a five-point advantage.
Mattimoe added another point for good measure while sub Barry Dardis sealed a slightly flattering nine-point win with an injury-time goal.
Meath may be happy to face Dublin in the April 2nd final as they met the Dubs back in 2001 when they claimed their last title at the grade.
The Royals looked slick in attack in the second-half when they ran at Offaly with pace and purpose and tore the midlanders aside, registering 2-8 in the half hour.
Midfielder Conor Sheridan impressed too while Joey Wallace, Eamon’s younger brother, shot three points from play in the first-half when Meath were up against it.
Scorers for Meath: Seamus Mattimoe 0-7 (0-3f), Bryan McMahon 1-3, Barry Dardis 1-0, Joey Wallace 0-3, Conor Sheridan 0-2, Neil Shortall 0-1.
Scorers for Offaly: Luke Kelly 1-2, Joe Maher 0-3, Ruairi McNamee 0-2, Sean Doyle, Aaron McDonagh and Peter Cunningham 0-1 each.
MEATH: Andy Colgan (Donaghmore/Ashbourne); Simon Carty (Dunderry), Conor McGill (Ratoath), David McQuillan (St Pat’s); Brian Power (Ratoath), Shane Melia (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Shane McEntee (St Peter’s); Conor Sheridan (Simonstown Gaels), Adam Flanagan (Clonard); Neil Shortall (Curraha), Bobby O’Brien (Ratoath), Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey); Bryan McMahon (Ratoath), Seamus Mattimoe (Gaeil Colmcille), Joey Wallace (Ratoath).
Subs: Cathal Finn (St Peter’s) for Power (39), Barry Dardis (Summerhill) for McEntee (52), Anthony Burke (Duleek/Bellewstown) for Flanagan (58), Harry Rooney (Skryne) for O’Brien (58), Oran Fitzpatrick (Clann na nGael) for Carty (61).
OFFALY: Conor Clancy (St Rynagh’s); Sean Moriarty (Edenderry), Joseph O’Connor (St Rynagh’s), Darragh Corbett (Shannonbridge); Conor McNamee (Rhode), Philip Foy (Clonmore Harps), Keith Mullally (Gracefield); Jason Gettings (Cappincur), Eoin Carroll (Cappincur); Sean Doyle (Edenderry), Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh), Aaron McDonagh (Ferbane); Joe Maher (Ferbane), Luke Kelly (Clara), Ruairi McNamee (Rhode).
Subs: Declan Byrne (Raheen) for Gettings 37, Adam Shelly (Tullamore) for Doyle 46, Nigel Bracken (Tullamore) for Mullally 58, Oisin Cusack (Durrow) for C McNamee 62.
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).