Leinster U20 Football Semi-Finals: Dublin And Kildare Book Last Spots

This is how the semi-finals of the U20 football championship in Leinster went on Thursday evening.

Dublin 4-12 Meath 1-14

Luke Breathnach scored twice as Dublin drove past Meath at Parnell Park to set up a delicious Leinster U20 FC final against Kildare.

Ryan O’Dwyer, captain Adam Waddick and Breathnach did the first damage for Jim Lehane’s side as they took a 3-7, 0-4 lead by the break while the Royals struggled to gain a foothold.

Meath had scored the first point of the game through Eoghan Frayne but amassed just five more chances before the break, three of which were converted by Darren O’Reilly (two) and Niall Finnerty (clear).

The platform for the Dubs’ victory consisted of driving runs through the middle of the visiting defense coupled with dominance of kickouts and 50-50 balls.

Impressive Fionn Murray and Breathnach piled on the visitors with more goals after the break, the latter passing Hogan before netting in the 36th minute.

Dublin went off the gas in the final 20 minutes but Meath ushered in the changes in their favor and got away with some credit.

Frayne, along with substitutes Pearse Sheridan (0-3) and Oisin Martin (0-2), scored as the Royals finally found their rhythm.

A couple of points from O’Dwyer – one free and another from play – ensured Dublin was always in control on the track.

Goalscorers – Dublin: L breath after 2-0; R O’Dwyer 1-6 (0-4f); F. Murray 0-6 (0-4f); A Waddick 1-0. Meat – E.Frayne 1-4 (0-1’45); D O’Reilly, P. Sheridan 0-3; O Martin 0-2; R. Kinsella 0-1; N Finnerty 0-1f.

Dublin: HO’Sullivan; K Conroy, T Clancy, H Donaghy; D O’Dowd, G McEneaney, C Tyrrell; A Waddick, S Forker; T Brennan, F Murray, S Smith; O’Dwyer R, Breathnach L, Kinsella S. Subtitle: D. Robertson for Brennan (HT); J. Lundy for Kinsella, R. Cullen for Smith (51); P. Duffy for Tyrrell (55); D Fagan for Murray (57).

Meat: B Hogan; M Corbett, L Kelly, C McCarrick; Coffey M, Carolan J, Caulfield C; J Browne, A McDonnell; S Smyth, D O’Reilly, S Emmanuel; Finnerty N, Frayne E, Kinsella R. Subtitle: A Bowden for Corbett (13); C Gray for Browne (24); for E Quinn for Carolan, P Sheridan 0-3 for Smyth (HT); O Martin 0:2 for Finnerty (49th).

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).

Kildare 2-11 Offaly 0-15

Kildare have reached Leinster’s under-20 football final after beating reigning Leinster and All Ireland champions Offaly in Tullamore.

Substitute Aaron Browne’s goal 10 minutes from time changed the course of play and gave Kildare the lead before they closed the game and won by two points.

After an even opening quarter, Kildare struck the first big blow of the game as Daniel Lynam scored after 14 minutes to put Kildare 4-1, 3-0.

Champions Offaly responded in style with the next four goals, including a second point for the impressive Keith O’Neill to put them a point ahead just before half-time.

Eoin Bagnall corrected the game before half-time and the teams went into the half-time break with the Offaly men looking to have the tailwind in the second half.

O’Neill, Cormac Delaney and Morgan Tynan sent Offaly a three-goal lead after 36 minutes. Kildare rallied and hit back with points to keep them in touch before they scored their second goal courtesy of Aaron Browne to put them 2-7, 0-12 ahead with 10 minutes to go.

Kildare were now in the lead and goals from Adam Fanning and substitute James Dalton helped them hold their buffer to secure the win.

Goalscorers – Kildare: A Browne 1-2, D Lynam 1-0, E Bagnall 0-3 (0-1 mark, 0-1 f), A Fanning 0-2, D Swords, S Farrell, C Barker (f), J Dalton 0 – 1 each By-products: H Plunkett 0-3f, Cormac Delaney 0-5 (0-4f, 0-1’45), K O’Neill 0-3, M Tynan 0-2, D Flynn and M Dalton 0-1 each.

Kildare: CBarker; H O’Neill, D O’Donoghue, M Maguire; A Boyle, J McGrath, T Gil; B. Gibbons, L. Killian; N O’Regan, D Lynam, A Fanning (clan); D Swords, S Farrell, E Bagnall. Subtitle: A Browne for S. Farrell (Blood 18-21); A Browne for D Swords (38); R Burke for B Gibbons (47); J McKevitt for Niall O’Regan (49); J Dalton for E Bagnall (58); A Conneely for D. Lynam (62).

By-products: S O’Toole; Pearson L, Finneran D, Hyland T; Ryan C, Furlong T, Sheerin J; M Tynan, a strong; F Dempsey, H Plunkett, M ​​Dalton; C Delaney, K O’Neill, D Flynn. Subtitle: J Guing for H Plunkett (48); E Murphy for M Dalton (62).

Referee: P McGuire (Longford).