Bennett on the double as U21 progress to Leinster U21HC final

DUBLIN 2-17 WESTMEATH 1-14

Dublin's under-21 hurlers kept their provincial dreams very much alive when they overcame a battling Westmeath in Wednesday night's Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC semi-final at Parnell Park.

Two second half goals from Chris Bennett proved crucial as the Dubs quelled a spirited Westmeath with the Faughs man eventually finishing with an individual tally of 2-6 (0-5f).

Bennett's first goal arrived eight minutes into the second half when the impressive Eoghan O'Donnell turned defence into attack with a long delivery down the terrace sideline which his team-mate won and angled at pace towards goal before unleashing a terrific drive to the near top corner of the net.

This pushed Dublin three points clear, 1-11 to 1-8, in a tight battle while his second goal ten minutes later really put Joe Fortune's hard-working side firmly into the driving seat as they established a five-point cushion, 2-13 to 1-11, with another clinical finish past Seán Maher in the Westmeath goal.

Dublin saw the game out in mature fashion with points from Seán Treacy (free), Seán O Riain, Bennett and influential sub Cian Boland seeing the Dubs progress to the provincial final.

While Dublin concluded the game in comfortable fashion they were made battle all the way, particularly when the midlanders led 1-4 to 0-2 inside the opening quarter.

Westmeath battled for every ball and looked potent in the air up front while their opportunism in the opening 30 minutes was greater than their hosts.

Westmeath's goal came in the 14th minute when the powerful Ciarán Doyle kicked the sliotar to the net following a high delivery into the danger zone.

However, Dublin finished the half out on top to lead 0-10 to 1-6 at the break courtesy of five points in-a-row with Cian Boland, following good work by AJ Murphy, Paul O'Dea, the industrious Na Fianna man Murphy then firing over and a fine Bennett point from the stand side.

Westmeath midfielder Killian Doyle brought the sides level for a fourth time shortly after the resumption, and it was all-square again when his twin brother Ciarán replied to a Bennett free.

Then Bennett showed great opportunism to hit Dublin's first goal and his second of the night sealed victory for Dublin. Offaly and Carlow meet in the other semi-final next week.

SCORERS - Dublin: C Bennett 2-6 (0-5f), AJ Murphy, C Boland 0-3 each, S O Riain 0-2, C O'Neill, P O'Dea, S Treacy (0-1f) 0-1 each. Westmeath: C Doyle 1-7 (0-5f), D Clinton 0-3 (0-2f) N Mitchel 0-2 (0-1 sideline), J Galvin, W Casserly 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: J Treacy; E O'Donnell, J Madden, C Hendricken; J Bellew, C MacGabhann, P O'Dea; M McCallion, J Malone; E McHugh, AJ Murphy, S Treacy; C O'Neill, S O Riain, C Bennett. Subs: C Boland for McHugh (20), R McBride for McCallion (38), F O Riain Broin for O'Dea (42), S Gray for Murphy (47), B Bolger for Bellew (55).

WESTMEATH: S Maher; A Cox, C Shaw, M Heeney; J Rabbitte, L Varley, R Gillen; W Casserly, K Doyle; D Egerton, L Cassidy, N Mitchell; J Galvin, C Doyle, D Clinton. Subs: P Scally for Cassidy (ht), D Giles for Cox (43).

REF: B Redmond (Wexford).