Andrews settles it

Leinster MFC Quarter-finals/ Dublin 1-11 Westmeath 0-11 : Paddy Andrews was the star of the show as Dublin edged out Westmeath…

Leinster MFC Quarter-finals/ Dublin 1-11 Westmeath 0-11: Paddy Andrews was the star of the show as Dublin edged out Westmeath in an enthralling Leinster Minor Football Championship quarter-final at Cusack Park on Saturday.

The Dublin captain scored four points from play and his first-half goal from a penalty ultimately proved the difference between the teams.

Westmeath made the better start in the glorious sunshine in Mullingar and opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes.

However, points from Cathal Morley and Andrews (two) drew Dublin level and the latter's clinically-taken penalty gave Dublin a three-point lead in the 24th minute.

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Westmeath captain John Connellan was unable to start due to injury but his entry to the fray reignited the home side's challenge. But Dublin's greater physical strength and the contribution of substitute Barry O'Rourke - who scored three second-half points from play - proved decisive as the metropolitans earned a semi-final place.

DUBLIN: J Mooney; J Cooper, C Connolly, H Gill; C McIntyre, K Nolan, C Guckian; C O'Sullivan, S Ryan; C Morley (0-1), P O'Connor (0-3, frees), D Kelly; L O'Donovan, S McCann, P Andrews (capt, 1-4, 1-0 pen). Subs: S Byrne for Gill (half-time); B O'Rourke (0-3) for McCann (37 mins); T Furman for Morley (41 mins); C Moore for Kelly (61 mins).

WESTMEATH: D Quinn; B Arigho, C Gavin, T Warburton; R Doyle, F Reilly, A Gaughan; M Flanagan, A Whitney (0-1); E Doolin, C Reilly (0-2), N Kilcoyne (0-1); B Kelly, A Giles, C Lynam (0-2, one free). Subs: J Connellan (capt, 0-5, frees) for F Reilly (inj, 24 mins); N Bannon for Kilcoyne (35 mins); D Geeragh for Arigho (45 mins); S Tone for Giles (59 mins).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois).