If you haven't been paying attention up to now, then you've missed out on some incredible action in the Electric Ireland Minor Football Championship. Unfortunately, just as the Leinster MFC is getting into its stride, it will be taking a break while the Leaving Cert exams take place.
Nonetheless last week's games provided us with plenty to talk about. The all-conquering Meath remain unbeaten on top of the pile in Group 1 after a monstrous win over Louth, who won't be returning to the provincial final for a second year running. The Wee County have now conceded 12 goals in just three games.
Meath are starting to look like All-Ireland contenders, but they can't look past the province just yet. Dublin made hard work of Offaly in Tullamore, but their 2-11 to 0-10 win at O'Connor Park keeps the Boys in Blue within reach of their Royal rivals. We're still on track for the Leinster final that everyone wants to see: The Dubs versus Meath.
Not that the rest of Leinster can be so easily forgotten. Wicklow have gradually gotten back into the championship, with each result better than the last: an opening round defeat to Offaly was followed up with a bonkers draw with Louth that featured 11 goals, before they defeated rock-bottom Westmeath last week.
After the third round of games, here's the Group 1 table in the @ElectricIreland @gaaleinster Minor Football Championship pic.twitter.com/mL4WSY46K9
— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) May 30, 2018
Here are your nominees for the Electric Ireland Player of the Week:
Matthew Costello - Meath
Not content with scoring the winning point against Dublin a couple of weeks ago, Matthew Costello put in another storming performance to help his side beat Louth by 4-14 to 0-12.
Meath's slow start saw them score just the one point in the opening twenty minutes, but by the interval just ten minutes later they were leading 2-4 to 0-7.
@ElectricIreland @gaaleinster Minor Football Championship Round 3
Full time
Louth: 0-12(12)@MeathGAA: 4-14(26)— Louth GAA (@louthgaa) May 30, 2018
A quickfire goal from Costello in the second-half, along with another from one of last week's nominees, Luke Mitchell, settled matters in Drogheda. Mitchell may have outscored Costello by one point with his tally of 1-5, but four of those were from frees.
Conversely Costello made all of his scores from play, terrorising the Louth defence with his class and peerless movement. With both lads on a scoring run at the moment, it's becoming difficult to envisage any defence in this competition shutting them out.
Eoin Darcy - Wicklow
There was no doubting who were the better side when Wicklow faced Westmeath last week, but one wonders what this team would look like without the leadership and consistency of one Eoin Darcy.
Last week's Electric Ireland Minor Footballer of the Week may not have provided the explosiveness of Gavin Fogarty, making a wonderful solo run before sealing the game with the Garden County's second goal, but he is the type of player who keeps the scoreboard ticking over and the opposition at arm's reach at the same time.
Eoin Darcy takes the honour of player of the week in the @ElectricIreland @gaaleinster minor football championship. Well done, first of many no doubt!https://t.co/8Od4c8qzz9
— Wicklow GAA Online (@wicklowgaa) June 1, 2018
Darcy raised the white flag a total of six times against the Lake County, including three 45's and a free. Such accuracy from set pieces has a reassuring effect on his teammates, who are safe in the knowledge that he will keep them in any game.
Wicklow will need his lethal boot in the final two games of the round robin, as they take on the top two in the group, Dublin and Meath, if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Jordan Martin - Longford
What a week it's been for Gaelic games in Longford, as the minor footballers followed up the seniors' magnificent win over Meath with an important victory over Wexford in Group 2 of the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship.
Longford got off to the perfect start, Peter Dempsey scoring a goal after a perfectly timed hand pass from Jordan Martin. Martin would put three points on the board himself before half-time, at which point it was looking exceedingly grim for a Yellowbellies team trailing 1-11 to 0-3.
Another perfect pass, this time from Eoghan McCormack, set up Martin for an easy finish and a final tally of 1-5. The St. Mary's Granard youngster was the pivot of a Longford attack that won the game by a margin of 16 points.
The Group 2 table in the @ElectricIreland @gaaleinster Minor Football Championship after the third round of games. pic.twitter.com/dE6J7PNW5p
— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) May 30, 2018
Whether or not the minors can match their elder equivalents and make it to a semi-final is another matter entirely, but they've given themselves every chance. Longford now need to defeat Carlow and Kildare in their final two games to reach the penultimate stage of the competition.
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.
