Senior footballers progress to Leinster final

DUBLIN 4-29 WESTMEATH 0-10

Dublin cruised to a 31-point victory in this Leinster SFC semi-final to set up a provincial decider against a resurgent Kildare on July 16.

The Dubs led by 13 points at the break and there was no way back from there for the midlanders in front of an attendance of 33,370.

Paul Mannion hit 0-8 from play as Dublin put on a shooting exhibition that included three second half goals as 11 different players contributed to Dublin's overall tally.

Seven minutes into the second half sub Eoghan O’Gara fielded a long delivery from his Templeogue Synge St club-mate Niall Scully, following a ‘mark’ from Ciarán Kilkenny, before rounding his net and blasting to Darren Quinn’s net to make it 2-18 to 0-7.

Just on 70 minutes Kilkenny powered his way through before finishing clinically to the net, for his first goal in senior league or championship. and in the fourth minute of added time Kevin McManamon put the final flourish on the scoreboard when powering to the net following good work from Brian Howard and O’Gara.

Dublin held a commanding 1-15 to 0-5 lead at the break the goal coming in the 28^th minute when Eric Lowndes carved through the Westmeath defence before placing Dean Rock who batted to the net.

It was the only goal that the Dubs scored but they created more chances with Niall Scully, Con O’Callaghan and Ciarán Kilkenny all getting sightings on the goal.

Jim Gavin’s men held total sway at midfield and destroyed the midlanders off Westmeath’s own kickouts.

However, the sides had been level 0-4 each after 12 minutes with Kieran Martin causing early problems for Dublin's full-back line. But when the possession dried up so, obviously, did the scoring threat.

As a result the opening half was mostly one-way traffic with Con O’Callaghan, Paddy Andrews and Paul Mannion kicking some very stylish points.

SCORERS - Dublin: P Mannion 0-8, D Rock 1-5 (0-3f, 0-2 '45s'), C Kilkenny 1-3, K McManamon 1-1, C O'Callaghan 0-3, E O'Gara 1-0, P Andrews, B Fenton, S Carthy, B Brogan (0-1f), 0-2 each, J McCaffrey 0-1. Westmeath: J Heslin 0-4 (0-3f), K Martin 0-3, J Egan 0-2, G Egan 0-1.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, C O'Sullivan, J Cooper; D Daly, E Lowndes, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, J McCarthy; C Kilkenny, C O'Callaghan, N Scully; D Rock, P Andrews, P Mannion. Subs: E O'Gara for Andrews (ht), D Byrne for Fitzsimons (44), S Carthy for Cooper (44), B Brogan for Rock (47), K McManamon for Scully (47), B Howard for O'Callaghan (61).

WESTMEATH: D Quinn; J Gonoud, K Maguire, F Boyle; D Lynch, K Daly, J Dolan; A Gaughan, G Egan; J Egan, P Sharry, C McCormack; M McCallon, J Heslin, K Martin. Subs: N Mulligan for Gaughan (ht), K Reilly for McCormack (49), C Boyle for Daly (51), S Corcoran for J Egan (53), D Glennon for Sharry (57), A Stone for Lynch (65).

REF: C Lane (Cork).