Minor footballers capture Leinster MFL title

DUBLIN 2-10 KILDARE 2-5

Dublin's minor footballers captured the Leinster MFL title when overcoming Kildare by five points in Saturday's decider in Hawkfield.

Most the drama was compacted into a second half that contained three goals and a brilliant penalty save with the Dubs deservedly coming out on top.

Dublin face Offaly in the Leinster MFC in Parnell Park on April 18.

After a low-scoring opening Conor Kavanagh's 20th minute goal brought the game to live and before the break Kavanagh and influential sub Kevin Callaghan had tagged on points for Paddy Christie's side to lead 1-4 to 0-2 at the interval.

Callaghan slotted the second of his three points, all off his less favoured left side, in the opening minute of the second half before a well taken James Healy goal after a good pass from Matthew Kelly brought Kildare back into contention, 1-5 to 1-2.

However, two minutes later Seán Caffrey put Dillon Keating through on goal and the Ballymun Kickhams lad finished in style to regain the five point lead.

Callaghan extended that lead before the Lilywhites struck again for goal when wing-forward Eoin O'Neill fired to the net.

Just at the three-quarter mark Kildare were awarded a penalty which Evan Comerford brilliantly saved to deny Aaron Murphy.

Comerford's heroics were not ended there as three minutes later he went up the field to convert a '45' and earn a 2-7 to 2-2 lead for his side.

Dublin never looked in trouble after that and can now set their full focus on the upcoming Leinster MFC.

It was not all good news for Dublin however as corner-forward Stephen Smith suffered a collarbone/shoulder injury in the first half on Saturday.

SCORERS – Dublin: D Keating 1-3 (0-3f), C Kavanagh 1-1, K Callaghan 0-3, S Caffrey 0-2, E Comerford (‘45’) 0-1 each. Kildare: J Healy, E O’Neill 1-0 each, B McLoughlin 0-2 (2f), E O’Donoghue, R Bannon, A Murphy (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: E Comerford; D Byrne, J Holland, G McNamara; C Kavanagh, B Howard, O Kelly; D McIlgorm, A Elliott; T Fox, S Howard, D Keating; S Smith, C Pearson, S Caffrey. Subs: K Callaghan for Smith (25), T O’Sullivan for Holland, (44, black card), B Shovlin for Elliott (49), J Kindlon for Fox (55).

KILDARE: J Lawler; S Healy, R Slattery, D Lawler; J Healy, D Courtney, K Flynn; K O’Callaghan, C Hartley; E O’Neill, E O’Donoghue, R Bannon; M Kelly, M Murray, A Murphy. Subs: C Kelly for Bannon (24), C Daly for Flynn (half-time), D O’Sullivan for J Healy (34), B McLoughlin for M Kelly (49), E Lawless for Murray (53)S Smyth for C Kelly (60).

REF: C Dwyer (Offaly).