Minor footballers progress to Leinster final

DUBLIN 1-16 KIDARE 0-14

The Dublin minor footballers progressed tothe Electric Ireland Leinster MFC final following Wednesday night’s superb semi-final victory over Kildare at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge.

Dublin will face Louth in the Leinster decider on Sunday week (July 16), it will be the Wee County's first appearance in a provincial decider since 1971.

Despite a slow start and trailing 0-3 to 0-0 in the early stages the Dubs found their feet in the last ten minutes of the opening half to lead 1-7 to 0-7 at the interval.

Ross McGarry got the only goal of the contest in the 28^th minute following great work by the impressive James Doran.

Seán Hawkshaw ignited the scoring sequence with a point in the 21^st minute and Danie Brennan followed up with two points from play, the first a superb effort.

David Lacey combined with Mark Tracey to cut the deficit to the minimum, 0-5 to 0-6, in the 25^th minute.

The Dubs nearly struck for goal then but James Madden’s effort cannoned of the crossbar.

However, two minutes later McGarry made no mistake following the graft of the highly influential Doran.

A Lacey point moved Dublin 1-7 to 0-5 clear but Kildare closed out the half with two points to leave it 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

The Lilywhites maintained that momentum on the restart with three points, all frees from Jack Barrett, to bring the sides level, 0-10 to 1-7.

Importantly team captain Donal Ryan fisted a point as he raided forward.

Points from McGarry (free) and Ryan again steadied Dublin in this well contested duel.

Every time Kildare threatened to get on top Dublin responded and points from Seán Hawkshaw and David Lacey had Dublin 1-13 to 0-13 clear by the 51^st minute.

Dublin lost Donal Ryan to a black card with six minutes of normal time remaining but their kept their nerve with points form Hawkshaw and sub Ciarán Archer moving them four clear before Lacey completed his fine night with a point from play.

SCORERS– Dublin: D Lacey 0-5 (0-1f), R McGarry 1-2 (0-2f), S Hawkshaw 0-3, D Ryan, D Brennan 0-2 each, J Doran, C Archer 0-1 each. Kildare: D Kirwan 0-4, J Barrett 0-3 (0-3f), S O’Sullivan 0-2, D Ryan, J Burke, F Nairn, J Cully 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: D O’Hanlon; D Maher, P O Cofaigh Byrne, L Flatman; K Kennedy, N Matthews, E O’Dea; M Tracey, D Ryan; D Brennan, J Doran, J Madden; R McGarry, S Hawshaw, D Lacey. Subs: A Byrne for Brennan (42); C Archer for McGarry (51); K Lynch for Ryan (Black card, 54); D Conlon for Madden (58); A Lynch for Maher (62)

KILDARE: A O’Neill; D Reilly, M Barrett, DJ Earley; D Ryan, N O’Connor, C Murphy; C McQuillan, D Kelly; B McDonnell, J Burke, F Nairn; J Barrett, S O’Sullivan, D Kirwan. Subs: A Cronin for Murphy (35); J Cully for O’Sullivan (42); D Foley for Burke (44); E McGovern for O’Connor (46); N O’Sullivan for Nairn (50); G Cunningham for J Barrett (54).

REF: J Hickey (Carlow).