Meath will contest their first Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship final for six years after hammering Laois by a score line of 5-18 to 0-8.
The Royal County went into the interval with a scarcely believable 3-9 to 0-2 lead, meting out heavy punishment to a side lacking some of their usual first-teamers. According to GAA.ie, Laois manager Donncha Phelan dropped a number of his panel members for "disciplinary reasons" after their last round robin tie against Kildare.
The effect was devastating, as the O'Moore County couldn't keep up with the pace and power of their semi-final foes, whose intensity caused something of a multiplier effect, raining down a heap of scores from beginning to end.
Whoever Meath play next, they'll have an extra week's rest over their opponents following a draw between Kildare and Wicklow. The two counties played out an incredible spectacle, scoring 3-13 apiece at St. Conleth's Park.
Leinster Final bound Congrats to Killian Hogan, Cillian Hegarty & David Carr on Meath’s win over Laois 5-18 to 0-8 in Portlaoise today in @ElectricIreland Ireland Minor Football Leinster Semi final. They play either Kildare or Wicklow next weekend in the final. pic.twitter.com/GRgCdUhbvL
— Don Ash GAA (@DonAshGAA) July 7, 2018
Elsewhere, Kerry defeated Clare in the Munster MFC final, while wins for Galway and Roscommon ensured their progression to the All-Ireland series.
Here are your nominees for Player of the Week:
David Bell - Meath
When a team are so utterly dominant while winning, it can be difficult to pick out just one player for praise. But in every great team there is a king among equals. This past weekend that player was David Bell.
Although the opposition were extremely weak on this occasion, the Meath teenager left nothing to chance, scoring two goals in five minutes as the game entered the final quarter.
For a minor team, Meath are absolutely brilliant. They’ll take some stopping. https://t.co/PsfwXALwI1
— Brian Rowe (@thebrikachu93) July 7, 2018
The corner forward's first goal came via a Bryan McCormack pass, while the second found the net through an intuitive flick after some good work by Brian O'Hanlon.
Bell finished the day with a tally of 2-3, more than anyone at O'Moore Park on Saturday, but it is scary to think that he is just one part of a ferocious three-pronged attack.
Daniel Cox - Galway
In similar fashion to Meath, Galway took care of business in ruthless fashion, utilising their attacking prowess to overpower far weaker opposition.
Connacht Minor Football Championship RESULT: Galway 4-17 Leitrim 1-11
— Galway Bay FM Sport (@gbfmsports) July 6, 2018
Daniel Cox was at the forefront of the Galwegian dominance, scoring two goals in a stirring first-half performance.
It was a five minute period in that half that was the winning of the game, in which the Tribesmen scored 3-2 unanswered, the full-forward contributing to two of them.
Cox and his teammates eased off after the break, but the job had been well completed by that stage, pulverising an in-form Leitrim side.
Eoghan Derwin - Roscommon
Sligo trailed by three points at half-time against Roscommon in MacHale Park on Friday evening, but they could only go on to score three themselves after the interval, falling to a remorseless attacking line of James Fitzpatrick, Adam McDermott and Eoghan Derwin.
The latter was the most impressive of the bunch, scoring 1-4 on a terrific day for the Rossies.
Derwin was at the centre of some flowing moves, one of which resulted in a goal for Fitzpatrick, before the corner forward smashed a penalty into the roof of the net.
Eoghan Derwins penalty. #rosgaa #gaa pic.twitter.com/phIv18PSwM
— Roscommon GAA (@RoscommonGAA) July 6, 2018
The youngster added some lovely points to his tally as well, powering the Sheepstealers to a Connacht MFC showdown with Galway.
Have your say and cast your vote for the player of the week nominees on Electric Ireland's Facebook page by clicking here. All nominated players will be in with a chance of making overall team/player of the year at the 2018 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Awards.
