Dublin book Leinster minor hurling final spot

Dublin 1-17 Westmeath 1-8

Dublin minor hurlers eased into the Leinster final with an unflattering nine-point win in Mullingar on Saturday afternoon against a Westmeath side which failed to replicate the outstanding form which saw them shock Wexford in the quarter-final.

Dublin were well in control in the opening exchanges and three converted frees by Matthew Oliver helped them lead 0-6 to 0-1 after 13 minutes.

Niall Mitchell’s well-taken goal gave the sizeable home support a huge lift and they trailed by just two points at the interval (0-9 to 1-4) with a significant wind in their backs on the change of ends.

However Dublin rattled over four unanswered points within 12 minutes of the resumption, via half-time substitute Eoghan Dunne (after just 30 seconds) and Donal Burke (three, including two frees) and after 45 minutes a poor Westmeath sideline cut saw Dublin attack and Burke poked the ball to the net.

DUBLIN: E Skelly; C Hendricken, C Brady, C Ryan (0-1); E Foley, P Smyth, S Hickey; M Oliver (0-4, frees), D Burke (1-5, 0-4 frees); F Whitely, M Maguire (0-3), C Burke (0-1); A Considine, E Conroy (0-1), G King. Subs: E Dunne (0-1) for King (ht), C Sammon for Oliver (38 mins), D Butler for Hickey (40 mins), A Mellett (0-1) for Burke (50 mins), C Dowling for Maguire (54 mins).

WESTMEATH: A McHugh; D Qamar, K Regan, S Lancaster; D Egerton, P Scally, J Bermingham; J Rabbitte, J O'Brien; K Doyle (0-2), C Doyle (0-4, frees), N Mitchell (1-1, 0-1 free); P Doody, J McCarthy, J Goonery (0-1). Subs: C Kane for McCarthy (50), F Dowd for Rabbitte (59).

Referee: M O'Sullivan (Kilkenny).