Minor footballers set to face Kildare in Leinster final

Wed, 3rd July 2019

Dublin minor footballers face Kildare in the Electric Ireland Leinster MFC final this Saturday in Pairc Tailteann, Navan (2.0). Live on TG4 YouTube

Both counties share an equally impressive run to the provincial decider having gone unbeaten in their group and obviously knockout games.

Dublin, operating in Group 2 during the round-robin stages, defeated Meath (4-10 to 2-10, Parnell Park), Wexford (3-12 to 1-10, Bellefield, Enniscorthy), Offaly (2-13 to 0-13, O'Connor Park, Tullamore) to top their group before overcoming Wicklow in their quarter-final (0-20 to 1-9, Joule Park, Aughrim) and Westmeath in their semi-final (0-18 to 1-11, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar).

The Dubs, who are managed by Jim Lehane, have scored 9-73 and conceded 5-53 in their five games to date with Fionn Murray (3-23; 0-15f, 0-3 '45') their top marksman with 14 different players contributing to the scoring tally.

Likewise the Lilywhites enjoyed a 100 per cent record in Group 3, winning all of their three games - opening with a 1-16 to 0-11 win away against Wicklow, then defeating Louth (1-18 to 0-16, Pairc Mhuire, Ardee), Kilkenny (1-12 to 0-5, Nowlan Park, Kilkenny) and then Laois in their provincial semi-final (0-12 to 1-6, O'Moore Park, Portlaoise).

Kildare have scored 3-58 and conceded just 1-38 in their four Leinster MFC encounters to date.

Dublin were last Leinster minor champions in 2017 and have been successful on 33 occasions while Kildare were provincial champions in 2016 and have been successful eight times.

The Dubs advanced to Saturday's Leinster MFC final after showing great mettle in their semi-final victory (0-18 to 1-11) at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.

A Ben McGauran goal for the midlanders saw the Dubs trail by five points in the 36th minute but they rallied strongly to score nine points without reply on their way to victory.

LEINSTER MFC: Roll of Honour

DUBLIN (33 titles): 1930, 1933, 1934, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959,1961, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017.

MEATH (11): 1957, 1972, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2006, 2008, 2018.

LAOIS (9): 1932, 1966, 1967, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007.

LOUTH (8): 1931, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1951, 1953.

KILDARE (8): 1973, 1975, 1983, 1987, 1991, 2013, 2015, 2016.

OFFALY (6): 1947, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1989.

WESTMEATH (5): 1939, 1952, 1963, 1995, 2000.

LONGFORD (4): 1929, 1938, 2002, 2010.

WEXFORD (3): 1937, 1950, 1969.

WICKLOW (1): 1974.