Results
Leinster U20 FC semi-finals
Offaly 0-15 Kildare 2-11
Dublin 4-12 Meath 1-14
Munster MFC
Tipperary 3-20 Waterford 2-3
Limerick 2-8 Clare 0-9
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KILDARE DEFEATED ALL-Ireland and provincial champions Offaly in today’s Leinster U20 football championship semi-final.
Goals from Daniel Lynam and Jack Quinn helped the Lilywhites advance to the decider, where they’ll face Dublin, who defeated Meath by 4-12 to 1-14 in the other semi-final.
Lynam’s goal after 13 minutes sent Kildare four clear, but Offaly responded brilliantly with scores from Harry Plunkett, Darragh Flynn, Keith O’Neill and Cormac Delaney.
Eoin Bagnall curled over a point to send the sides in level at the break.
With the wind behind them, Offaly hit the first three points of the second period to move three ahead. Kildare fired back through Bagnall and Aaron Browne, but Plunkett struck a lovely free to leave Offaly 0-12 to 1-7 ahead.
Then Quinn struck a 50th minute goal to send the Lilywhites in front, quickly followed up by Cormac Baker’s score. Offaly midfielder Morgan Tynan reduced the gap to one with seven minutes to play.
Browne and Adam Fanning scored for Kildare, while Delaney responded with two for Offaly. Trailing by two in the closing stages, the Faithful desperately chased a goal that never arrived.
In the other semi-final, Dublin prevailed by seven points after a dominant performance.
The Sky Blues led Meath by 3-7 to 0-4 at half-time following goals from Ryan O’Dwyer, Adam Waddick and Luke Breathnach.
The Royals did improve in the second-half but they left themselves with too much work to do. Breathnach added Dublin’s fourth goal to push them 15 points, 4-8 to 0-5, clear in the 36th minute.
To their credit Meath never stopped battling and won the second-half after a late goal from Eoghan Frayne, but Dublin advanced.
Meanwhile, in the Munster MFC Tipperary enjoyed a 3-20 to 2-3 win over Waterford, while Limerick defeated Clare by 2-8 to 0-9.
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