Sport

Hiney goal swings it

Leinster Under-21 Football/ Dublin 1-9; Longford 0-10: Defending Leinster and All-Ireland under-21 champions Dublin left Navan…

Mon Apr 12 2004 - 01:00

Leinster Under-21 Football/ Dublin 1-9; Longford 0-10: Defending Leinster and All-Ireland under-21 champions Dublin left Navan's Páirc Tailteann on Saturday with the titles still in their possession, but they were given a scare by a well-organised and battling Longford side in the provincial semi-final clash.

Fielding 10 of last year's winning outfit, Dublin did their best to kick this game away, accumulating 15 wides, compared to just five by their opponents.

Longford's short passing play enabled them to get into some good scoring positions, with midfielder Paul O'Hara and corner forward Donal McKeon firing over excellent points.

The sides were level four times in the first half, and Dublin did not get their noses in front until after 22 minutes, when county senior Graham Cullen shot the first of his four points from play.

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It was 0-5 each at the break, and Longford edged back in front immediately after the restart with O'Hara on target. But that was the last time they led.

The decisive goal arrived in the 33rd minute when county senior hurler Stephen Hiney had his initial effort blocked on the line but followed up to put the rebound in the net. But points from substitute Francis McGee and McKeon left the minimum in it with three minutes to go.

Just when extra time looked a real possibility Dublin substitute Daibheach Dineen sent over the last score. Longford were awarded a close-in free deep into added time but O'Hara went for a point and shot wide.

DUBLIN: P Copeland; C Prenderville, M Fitzpatrick, P Griffin; N Cooper, B Cullen, B Lyons; D O'Mahony, P Brennan; S Hiney (1-0), D Kelleher, G Cullen (0-4); D O'Callaghan (0-1), M Whelan (0-1), J Noonan (0-2, 2 frees). Subs: D Dineen (0-1) for Whelan, M Vaughan for O'Callaghan.

LONGFORD: G Evans; J Nally, J Connaughton, P Murtagh; M Kelly, S Lynch, S Mulligan; P O'Hara (0-3, 1 free), D Smyth; W Murray, E Williams, T Glendenning; M Hussey (0-1), D Farrell, D McKeon (0-4, 1 free). Subs: P Dowd (0-1) for Glendenning, P McDonnell for Lynch, F McGee (0-1) for Hussey, M Kenny for Farrell, D Morgan for Murray.

Referee: G McKenny (Louth).