NHL Division Two Semi-finals/ Dublin 1-15 Westmeath 0-11: In what was a dress rehearsal for their Leinster Senior Hurling Championship clash next month, Dublin overcame Westmeath in Páirc Tailteann, Navan, to claim a place in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 2 final.
It was not the most encouraging performance from Tommy Naughton's charges but the Dubs grabbed the only goal of the game in the 41st minute, courtesy of full forward Kevin Flynn, to kill off Westmeath's chances.
Flynn latched on to a pass from David Curtin to give Mark Briody no chance. Up until that point, the Midlanders, with midfielder Eoin Loughlin in outstanding form, had been very much in the contest and were only four points adrift at the interval, 0-10 to 0-6, after playing into the wind.
Indeed it was only in the closing moments of the half that Dublin moved clear, when five unanswered points, three from David Curtin, gave them a comfortable cushion. With the wind in their favour, Westmeath's expected second-half challenge failed to materialise.
On Saturday, Mayo beat Meath 1-14 to 2-6 in a replayed quarter-final. The Connacht men now meet Kerry to decide who faces Dublin in the final.
Dublin: G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; M Carton, R Fallon, A de Paor; J McCaffrey (0-2), T Moore; E Moran (0-2), S McDonnell (0-1), D Curtin (0-6); K Dunne (0-2), K Flynn (1-2), A McCrabbe. Subs: S Lehane for McCrabbe, G O'Meara for de Paor, L Ryan for McDonnell.
Westmeath: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; N Gavin, D McCormack, B Connaughton; E Loughlin (0-1), G Gavin (0-1); D Devine, B Murtagh (0-1), A Mitchell (0-7); B Kennedy (0-1), J Shaw, J Clarke. Subs: D Carty for Devine, D McNicholas for Clarke.
Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)
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