Champions Dublin book place in final after thriller against Longford

LEINSTER UNDER-21 FOOTBALL SEMI-FINALS

Dublin 2-15 Longford 3-7

Dublin booked their passage into another Leinster Under-21 decider when seeing off Longford’s stiff challenge at Páirc Tailteann.

The reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions started slowly but finished the game in style with six unanswered points for a comfortable win.

The game opened in a welter of excitement with three goals in the opening 13 minutes.

Longford struck first with corner forward Larry Moran crashing the ball to the Dublin net inside 90 seconds. The midlanders might have had a second goal shortly afterwards but Patrick Kiernan was dispossessed as he was about to pull the trigger.

Dublin looked nervy in the early stages as they dropped four efforts short of the target.

A goal from Killian O’Gara on eight minutes helped settle the nerves though and they eventually went on to lead to 2-5 to 2-4 at the end of an action-packed opening half.

Liam Connerton pounced on a defensive mistake to net Longford’s goal and leave the midlanders leading 2-1 to 1-1.

Dublin responded with three successive points from the impressive Conor McHugh to draw level and they went ahead for the first time after Colm Basquel fielded an Eoin Murchan centre and netted from close range.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with Connerton producing a neat finish to the Dublin net.

Three successive points from McHugh helped Dublin regain the lead but Longford were still ahead after wing back Dessie Reynolds pointed on 48 minutes.

Substitute Aaron Byrne equalised a minute later and Dublin tightened their grip on the game from there to the finish.

Eric Lowndes who switched from defence to attack pointed Dessie Farrell’s men ahead and then Niall Scully got in on the act with three points in a five minute spell to give his side breathing space.

There was no come back for Longford after that as Lowndes notched another point before the finish.

DUBLIN: L Molloy; S Clayton, D Byrne, R McGowan; E Lowndes (0-2), C Mullally, E Murchan; S Cunningham, S Carthy; G Burke, A Foley (0-1), N Scully (0-3); K O'Gara (1-2), C McHugh (0-5, one free), C Basquel (1-1).

Subs: R Gaughan for Burke (43 mins), A Byrne (0-1) for O'Gara (47 mins), M Deegan for Basquel (59 mins).

LONGFORD: C Farrell; R Sweeney, A Farrell, C Shields; L Sullivan, C Farrelly, D Reynolds (0-1); F Sheridan, A Dalton (0-1); R McNerney, S Kenny, R Connor; L Moran (1-1, one free), P Kiernan (0-2), L Connerton (2-1).

Subs: D McGivney (0-1, free) for Sheridan (25 mins), P Farrell for A Farrell (51 mins), N Rabbitte for Kiernan (56 mins).

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow)

Kildare 2-15 Meath 0-13

This game hinged on a two-minute period straight after the resumption at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, when Kildare found the net almost immediately after Meath had had a gilt-edged opportunity to blow the Leinster Under-21 Football Championship semi-final wide open.

Ruairí Ó Coileáin was denied by Colin Heeney and before the Royals knew what was happening, Neil Flynn was coming up with a stunningly-composed finish after beating four defenders with a blistering run.

That gave Kildare enough breathing space to see out the game.

After an edgy start, the All Whites gradually imposed themselves in the first half. Niall Kelly and Chris Healy had a dangerous look about them with the senior player on the mark twice as Bryan Murphy’s side led by three after 19 minutes.

A pair of frees from Ó Coileáin kept Meath in touch but Kildare scored four of the last five points to put a more accurate reflection on the scoreboard.

Healy, who won a junior club All-Ireland with Two Mile House 12 months ago, started the run with a good finish after twisting and turning to make space well. Flynn slotted a free and after Pádraic Harnan notched up Meath’s fifth point, Kelly and Chris Fenner hit the target to give the Lilies a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead.

Meath’s goal chance arrived after 30 seconds of the resumption and who knows what way it might have turned had the otherwise outstanding Ó Coileáin managed to shake the rigging.

His shot was powerful enough but just too close to Heeney, who dived to his right to knock it away for a 45, which he caught for good measure.

Two minutes later, Flynn was rewarding Heeney’s brilliance in fabulous fashion, gathering possession just outside the 20 metre line before embarking on an arcing run that bamboozled the Meath defence. His side-footed finish to the roof of the net was immaculate.

It was crucial as though Kildare did go seven points ahead with that goal, the excellent Ó Coileáin kicked four points to reduce the margin to a goal.

Kildare showed their mettle with a strong finish. The industrious David Fitzpatrick popped up for a deserved score and Flynn landed three, before substitute Cein McMonagle finished for an injury-time goal.

KILDARE: C Heeney; P Mescal, D Maguire, B Byrne; R Houilhan, D Duke, D Hyland; R Moore, P Connell; M Sherry, C Fenner (0-2), D Fitzpatrick (0-1); N Flynn (1-6, four frees), N Kelly (0-4), C Healy (0-2).

Subs: D Flaherty for Fenner, C McMonagle (1-0) for Healy (both 54 mins), T O'Connell for Houlihan (black card, 57mins).

MEATH: J Hannigan; M Flood, B Power, G McGowan; L Ferguson, S Dowling, S McEntee; A Flanagan; H Rooney; P Harnan (0-1), R Ó Coileáin (0-8, six frees), C Rooney; J Wallace, P Kennelly (0-1), E Wallace (0-3).

Subs: B Duggan for H Rooney (35 mins), J McEntee for C Rooney (46 mins), M Reilly for Flood (49 mins), B Dardis for Kennelly (54 mins), F Ward for S McEntee (59 mins).

Referee: F Smyth (Offaly).