KILDARE WILL FACE Westmeath in this year’s Leinster minor football final next Sunday afternoon in Croke Park after both sides claimed victories in today’s semi-final ties.
Westmeath will contest their first final in this grade since 2000 when they were crowned champions while Kildare last won the minor crown in Leinster in 1991 and lost recent finals in 2004 and 2009.
Here’s how they triumphed in today’s semi-final ties.
Kildare 3-13
Dublin 2-6
Dublin may have reigned supreme against Kildare last Sunday in Croke Park at senior level but when the county’s minor sides clashed this afternoon in Parnell Park, it was Kildare who emerged comfortable victors.
Kildare lead by 1-8 to 1-3 at half-time after producing a bright start in the opening period with Cein McMonagle raising their early green flag. Cillian O’Seanáin had fired the ball to the net previously for Dublin.
They stretched their lead in the 42nd minute when Neil Flynn despatched a penalty to the net after Chris Healy was fouled before McMonagle’s second goal sent them clear by 3-11 to 1-4.
Conor Basquel grabbed a late goal for Dublin but they were still adrift by ten points at the final whistle.
Westmeath 0-11
Meath 1-6
Westmeath, under the guidance of former Dublin senior boss Tommy Carr, staved off the challenge of Meath this afternoon by two points in Páirc Tailteann in Navan.
The Midlands County were 0-5 to 0-2 to the good after 20 minutes and had extended their lead to four points, 0-7 to 0-3, at the interval.
The second-half was a low-scoring affair and with ten minutes remaining Westmeath were 0-9 to 0-3 to the good.
But Meath launched a late fightback, inspired by a goal from James McEntee, and entering the closing couple of minutes they were narrowly adrift by 0-9 to 1-5.
Yet Westmeath pulled clear to claim a two-point success and qualify for next Sunday’s decider.
