U20 footballers fail to spark in Leinster decider

Fri, 6th July 2018

KILDARE 1-15 DUBLIN 0-10

Kildare are the inaugural EirGrid Leinster U20 football champions after an impressive victory over Dublin in Friday night's provincial decider at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

The Lilywhites took control of the game in the last five-plus minutes before the half-time interval and the Dubs never looked like wrestling back that momentum in the second period.

In a nervy opening by both teams Dublin, playing into the wind, led 0-5 to 0-3 after 24 minutes.

Cormac Howley opened Dublin's account with a fine left-footed effort inside the opening minute, a Tom Keane free and point from play by Seán Bugler had the boys in blue 0-3 to 0-2 up by the 17th minute.

The influential Jimmy Hyland brought the sides level with a free before James Doran edged Dublin back in front following good defensive play by Nathan Doran. Dublin extended their lead to 0-5 to 0-3 with Bugler's second point before Hyland punished a mistake by the Dubs defence to leave the minimum in it.

The momentum swung totally in Kildare's favour from then to the interval.

Keane had a sighting of goal from an acute angle but his effort was well saved by Kildare keeper Aaron O'Neill and the Lilies countered clinically for Tony Archbold to score.

Kildare then assumed total control of the kickouts and reeled off five more unanswered points to make it seven scores in-a-row to lead 0-10 to 0-5 at the break.

Keane got Dublin up and running in the second half following a powerful run from Eoin O'Dea but Kildare replied through Pdraig Nash, who finished with three points from play.

A clever ball from James Doran looked set to put Ross McGarry through one-on-one but a Kildare hand half cut it out and the Ballyboden St Enda's forward had to settle for a point off his left.

Unlike in most their other games Dublin could not create goal-scoring opportunities as Kildare stoutly marshalled the central corridor of their defence and it was a goal Dublin needed if they were going to spark a revival.

Two minutes into added time Archbold got the only goal of the game with late points from Bugler and Keane concluding the scoring.

Kildare, who were Leinster minor football champions two years ago, advance to face Munster champions, Kerry, in their All-Ireland semi-final.

SCORERS - Kildare: J Hyland 0-8 (0-2f), T Archbold 1-1 (1-0 pen), P Nash 0-3, P Woodgate, B McLoughlin, S O’Sullivan 0-1 each. Dublin: T Keane 0-4 (0-1f), S Bugler 0-3, J Doran, C Howley, R McGarry 0-1 each.

KILDARE: A O’Neill; M Dempsey, M Barrett, DJ Earley; T Archbold, J Bambrick, J Gibbons; A Masterson, D Marnell; D Ryan, P Nash, R O Giolláin; P Woodgate, B McLoughlin, J Hyland. Subs: S O’Sullivan for Nash (38) C Costigan for Marnell (49), S Doran for Woodgate (53), N Murphy for McLoughlin (60), J Barrett for Earley (63), M Betts Symonds for Murphy (63, bc).

DUBLIN: D O’Hanlon; C Smith, N Doran, N Nolan; K Kennedy, N Matthews, E O’Dea; D Ryan, S Bugler; T Keane, J Madden, R McGarry; D O’Brien, J Doran, C Howley. Subs: K Lynch Bissett for Howley (34), J Holland for O’Brien (43), S King for McGarry (52), E Fitzpatrick for Ryan (56), D Brennan for Doran (58).

REF: A Nolan (Wicklow).