U20 footballers progress to Leinster semi-final

LEINSTER U20FC QUARTER-FINAL

DUBLIN 1-12 WICKLOW 1-8

Dublin under-20 footballers battled their way to victory in Thursday night's Leinster U20FC quarter-final at Parnell Park.

Two well-taken points in added time from Luke Swan, the only scores of the concluding quarter, settled the outcome after an action-packed encounter.

Dublin led 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time but the game turned very much in Wicklow's favour early in the second period and the game was up for grabs in the final quarter.

The sides were level 0-3 each after 11 minutes before Dublin hit 1-2 without reply before the first water break to lead 1-5 to 0-3.

Points from Luke Swan following good work from Lorcan O'Dell, Rory Dwyer and Adam Waddick was followed by another from Mark O'Leary.

In the last minute of the opening quarter Seán Foran finished to the net after Lorcan O'Dell showed good vision to pick out Luke Ward who released Foran through on goal.

Unfortunately Foran who had enjoyed a strong first half was injured late in the first period and had to be replaced.

Fionn Murray extended Dublin's lead after Mark L'Estrange had grafted hard to secure possession from a Wicklow kickout and by the break it was 1-7 to 0-5 in Dublin's favour.

Dublin had claims for a penalty in the 14th minute also waved away after the hard-working Adam Fearon raced through the heart of the Wicklow defence.

However, just 17 seconds into the second half Wicklow rocked Dublin with a goal when sub JP Nolan's shot was slightly deflected to Josh O'Neill's net.

He followed up with a point as Wicklow applied more pressure and in the fifth minute the Garden County were awarded a penalty - but Cillian McDonald's effort from the spot flew over the crossbar to bring the sides level, 1-7 each.

Dublin needed a score and Fionn Murray provided it with a well converted '45' and then added another following good work by Mark O'Leary.

Cillian McDonald closed the gap to a point and then Wicklow had another sighting on goal but Oisín Cullen's effort was parried by Josh O'Neill and Adam Rafter tidied up.

Entering the last quarter a Fionn Murray free made it 1-10 to 1-8 and then on the restart neither side scored until Luke Swan hit two points in quick succession in injury-time.

The Dubs will face Meath in Navan in their semi-final (date tbc) with Westmeath and Offaly clashing in the other semi-final next Thursday in Cusack Park, Mullingar (7.30). 

SCORERS – Dublin: F Murray 0-6 (0-1f, 0-1 '45'), L Swan 0-3, S Foran 1-0, M L’Estrange, M O’Leary, M Lavin 0-1 each. Wicklow: K Quinn 0-4, JP Nolan 1-1, C McDonald 0-2 (0-1pen), M Ging (0-1f) 0-1.

DUBLIN: J O’Neill; C Tyrrell, A Rafter, B Millist; R Dwyer, A Waddick, M L’Estrange; M O’Leary, A Fearon; M Lavin, L O’Dell, S Foran; F Murray, L Swan, L Ward. Subs: L Murphy-Guinane for Foran (30+3), C Chawke for Ward (44), S Forker for O’Leary (55), D O’Dowd for Lavin (55).

WICKLOW: J Sargent; C Grimes, M Stone, T Moran; G Fogarty, Z Cullen, C Maguire; E Byrne, S Crowley; K Quinn, J Keogh, C McDonald; M Ging, E Byrne, E Darcy. Subs: JP Nolan for Darcy (23), J Brady for Ging (38), O Cullen for Byrne (45), A Daly Danne for Maguire (55), B Hickey for Crowley (61), S Daly for McDonald (65).

REF: J Hickey (Carlow).