Boland goal crucial as U21 hurlers reach Leinster final

Wed, 25th June 2014

DUBLIN 2-8 WESTMEATH 0-13

Dublin's under-21 hurlers progress to the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC final following the slimmest of victories over Westmeath in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Wednesday night.

The Dubs will face Wexford, semi-final victors over Offaly, in Parnell Park on Wednesday, July 9 after just about edging past the midlanders in a edge-of-the-seat finish. Half-time sub Cian Boland's goal and a point in the second half proved to be crucial as Westmeath came very close to forcing an equaliser in the dying minutes.

They also had a penalty saved when lively corner-forward Niall O'Brien's 57th minute effort was saved by keeper Conor Dooley and cleared by the Dublin defence. Boland's goal came in the 12th minute of the second half when he cut in along the endline before angling his drive past keeper Kieran Glennon to push Dublin 2-6 to 0-9 in front, after the sides had been level at the interval (1-6 to 0-9).

A massive 80-metre free from Paul Winters extended Dublin's lead, but Westmeath responded very well to take control and reeled in that lead with four deadballs from O'Brien with six minutes remaining. Then came the penalty save before Boland struck the winner following positive approach play from fellow sub Fiontán McGibb. In the opening half a well-taken Colm Cronin goal in the fifth minute looked to have given the Dubs the ideal opening but they found it hard to secure enough possession to really put their opponents on the back foot.

The freektaking of O'Brien along with some fine shooting from half-forwards Robbie Greville and Aonghus Clarke gave Westmeath plenty of room for optimism of victory as they got on level terms by the break, 1-6 to 0-9.

Westmeath finished the half on the up with the last three scores of the opening 30 minutes after long-range points from Winters and Aodhán Clabby had put Dublin 1-6 to 0-6 clear by the 25th minute.

SCORERS:

Dublin:

C Boland 1-1, P Winters 0-4 (0-3f), C Cronin 1-0, C Conway 0-2, A Clabby 0-1.

Westmeath:

N O'Brien 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 '65'), R Greville, A Clarke 0-2 each, D Fennell 0-1.

Players:

DUBLIN:

C Dooley; S McClelland, C O'Callaghan, M McCaffrey; E O'Donnell, R Murphy, C Crummey; D Gormley, C Robinson; P Winters, K O'Flynn, C Cronin; C Conway, A Clabby, O O'Rorke. Subs: C Boland for Conway (ht), AJ Murphy for O'Donnell (44), T Devlin for Gormley (47), F McGibb for O'Flynn (51),

WESTMEATH:

K Glennon; P Fennell, T Doyle, L Varley; G Greville, T Gallagher, M Heaney; D Fennell, D Lynch; R Greville, N O'Brien, D Higgins; A Clarke, C Scally, J Boyle. Subs: N Kirby for Scally (52), Scally for Fennell (54)