Sport

Kildare finish on a high

Leinster U-21 SF final replay/ Kildare 1-10; Dublin 0-12: Dublin relinquished their Leinster, and hence All-Ireland, titles …

Mon May 03 2004 - 01:00

Leinster U-21 SF final replay/ Kildare 1-10; Dublin 0-12: Dublin relinquished their Leinster, and hence All-Ireland, titles on Saturday in Portlaoise after a battling Kildare side prevailed in this replay thanks to an injury-time point from Eddie McCormack.

The reigning champions rallied brilliantly after losing midfielder Pádraig Brennan to a second yellow card with 12 minutes of the second half played.

At that stage they were trailing by a point, with Kildare getting their goal early in the first half. Ross Glavin finished the ball to the net following quick thinking by Daryl Flynn and a fine lay-off from Michael Cocoman.

After the goal, Kildare dominated as Flynn and Willie Heffernan impressed in centrefield and they led by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break. Inspired by David O'Callaghan, who scored four points from play, at corner forward, Dublin took the game to Kildare in the second half, especially after Brennan was sent off.

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Although Dublin would take a one-point lead through O'Callaghan with seven minutes to go, they ultimately appeared to tire and Kildare took the initiative.

Eamonn McCormack, who had just been introduced into the play from the bench, scored the equaliser with seconds remaining.

Then Kildare pushed for the winner and Eddie McCormack came up with the goods as the county won their first provincial crown at this level for 12 years.

KILDARE: T Corley; M Hogarty, R McCabe, A McLoughlin; M Dowling, M Foley, J Lonergan; W Heffernan (0-1), D Flynn (0-1); H Lynch, J Kavanagh (0-1, free), D McCormack (0-4); M Cocoman, R Glavin (1-2, one point free), T Archibold. Subs: P Ennis for Kavanagh (39 mins), M Scanlon for Dowling (53 mins), S Darcy for Lonergan (53 mins), F Hannify for Glavin (56 mins), E McCormack (0-1) for Cocoman (68 mins).

DUBLIN: P Copeland; P Griffin, N Clarke, M Fitzpatrick; N Cooper, B Cullen (0-3), B Lyons; D O'Mahony, P Brennan; D Kelleher (0-1), G Cullen, C Prendeville; D O'Callaghan (0-4), S Hiney, J Noonan (0-4, one free). Subs: G Brennan for G Cullen (21 mins), M Vaughan for Kelleher (half-time), J Coughlan for Brennan (45 mins).

Referee: P O'Reilly (Longford).