Dublin U20 Footballers beat Wicklow to seal Dalata Leinster Semi Final berth

Image courtesy Paul Lundy

DUBLIN 1-19

WICKLOW 0-17

Dublin progressed to the last four of the Dalata Leinster Under 20 Football Championship when getting the better of Wicklow by five points at St Joseph’s Park, Baltinglass on Wednesday night. 

Despite falling four points behind in the early stages, Dublin gained the initiative towards the end of the first quarter with Clyde Burke contributing four points to push his side into a 0-13 to 0-8 interval lead.

The excellence of Ryan Harrison’s free-taking brought the hosts level by the 43rd minute but the pivotal moment arrived eight minutes later as Paddy Kelly crashed home to the net from close range to effectively seal Dublin’s place in the semi-finals.    

It was the hosts that started on the front foot through a point inside thirty seconds from Harrison before Joe Quigley converted a 3rd minute free to restore parity. 

That proved an isolated moment of early encouragement for the visitors who fell behind once again through Alex Kavanagh’s 5th minute point before Harrison kicked a two-pointed free to extend Wicklow’s lead. 

Harrison and Aaron Lee (‘45’) traded placed balls as the half progressed before Dublin gained a foothold towards the end of the first quarter thanks to points in quick succession from Burke and Shane Mullarkey (free). 

While Cian Deering replied for the hosts, it proved their final score for thirteen minutes as Dublin took complete control of events around the middle third. 

A Luke O’Boyle score preceded a sublime two-pointed score from Burke in the 17th minute, handing the Dubs the lead for the first time and they continued to press as Burke and Kelly added to the away tally. 

The latter added two further points towards the end of the half and with Quigley converting two frees, Dublin took a five-point lead into the interval as Wicklow tagged on some much-needed scores through Páidí Kavanagh (free) and Mark Kinsella.

A Patrick Small point reduced the home deficit in the opening minute of the second-half and Harrison’s second two-pointed free left just two points between the sides by the 35th minute. 

With scores from play at a premium, Quigley and Harrison showcased their free-taking abilities as they exchanged two-pointed frees and another from Harrison in the 43rd minute saw the teams deadlocked at 0-15 apiece. 

Quigley helped settle matters as he converted a 48th minute free and he clipped over Dublin’s first score from play of the half a minute later to help restore a two-point buffer. 

Further breathing space was provided in the 51st minute as O’Boyle jinked his way through before timing his pass to perfection for the inrushing Kelly, who made light work of the resultant finish. 

There was sufficient time for Harrison to kick his fifth two-pointed free but scores from substitute James McCormack and Quigley (free) saw the visitors home with a fair degree of comfort. 

Scorers – Dublin: J Quigley 0-8 (5f, 1 F2); P Kelly 1-3; C Burke 0-4 (1 P2); A Lee (‘45’), S Mullarkey (f), L O’Boyle, J McCormack 0-1 apiece. Wicklow: R Harrison 0-12 (1f, 5 F2); A Kavanagh, C Deering, P Kavanagh (f), M Kinsella, P Small 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: A Lee; S Keogh, D Murphy, E Brady; R Mitchell, C McMorrow, J Smith; S Hickey, S Ryan; L O’Boyle, P Kelly, C Burke; R Doherty, S Mullarkey, J Quigley. Subs: J McCarville for Doherty (42), J Brady for Keogh (42), O Donohoe for Mitchell (53), J McCormack for Burke (57), D Clark for Kelly (60). 

Wicklow: A O’Leary; J Kindlon, A Kinsella, J Fleming; J Boland, A O’Brien, C Deering; J Hardy, M Kinsella; R Harrison, P Small, P Kavanagh; É Nolan, A Kavanagh, T Tisdall. Subs: J Heatly for A Kavanagh (39), B Hurley for Nolan (48), J Healy for Kindlon (53), A Smith for Small (59), E Cullen for M Kinsella (59). 

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath).