Kildare 0-14 Dublin 1-16
Dublin ended Kildare’s quest for a fifth Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Final appearance in a row, following a cracking semi-final win at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Wednesday night.
In the last semi-final clash in any province in this grade, Dublin put a sluggish start behind them to claim a five-point win.
Ballyboden’s Ross McGarry netted the games only goal after 29 minutes, in a bright spell for Dublin, after they trailed by 0-5 to 0-2, with Findlay Nairn, Shane O’Sullivan, James Burke and Darragh Kirwan claiming Kildare’s early scores. McGarry’s major came during a period which saw Dublin score 1-5 unanswered, with Seán Hawkshaw kick-starting this purple patch with a fine point.
Daniel Brennan and David Lacey also claimed two points each during this patch, with James Doran the provider before McGarry finished to the net.
Kildare rallied before the break with points from O’Sullivan and defender Darragh Ryan, as McGarry’s goal provided the difference at the break.
The hosts worked hard on the restart, with Gay Campbell’s charges levelling the contest thanks to three pointed Jack Barrett frees by the 34th minute.
Donal Ryan and Brian McDonnell traded scores to level the tie yet again, but Dublin now seemed to hold that extra edge. Hawkshaw, Lacey and Ciaran Archer were on target as Dublin opened up a four-point gap for the first time in the half, with less than four minutes remaining.
Lacey extended that lead in the second minute of injury-time, as Kildare were wayward in their late scoring chances, and Dublin held on.
KILDARE: A O'Neill; D Reilly, M Barrett, DJ Earley; D Ryan (0-1), N O'Connor, C Murphy; C McQuillan, D Kelly; B McDonnell, J Burke (0-1), F Nairn (0-1); J Barrett (0-3, all frees), S O'Sullivan (0-2), D Kirwan (0-5).
Subs: A Cronin for Murphy (36 mins); J Cully (0-1) for S O'Sullivan (42 mins); D Foley for Burke (44 mins); E McGovern for O'Connor (47 mins); N O'Sullivan for Nairn (51 mins); G Cunningham for Kirwan (54 mins). Referee: John Hickey (Carlow)
DUBLIN: D O'Hanlon; D Maher, P O Cofaigh Byrne, L Flatman; K Kennedy, N Matthews, E O'Dea; D Ryan (0-2), M Tracey; D Brennan (0-2), J Doran (0-1), J Madden; R McGarry (1-2, two frees), S Hawkshaw (0-3), D Lacey (0-5, one free).
Subs: A Byrne for Brennan (42 mins); C Archer (0-1) for McGarry (52 mins); K Lynch for Ryan (b/c, 54 mins); S Purcell for Madden (58 mins); K Lynch for Maher (63 mins). Referee: John Hickey (Carlow)
