Gaelic Games

Dublin survive scare as Cian Boland seals win over Westmeath

Dublin progress to Leinster Under-21 hurling final

Westmeath’s David Higgins and Aonghus Clarke take on Colm Cronin of Dublin during their Leinster hurling under-21 semi-final in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Photograph: Inpho
Westmeath’s David Higgins and Aonghus Clarke take on Colm Cronin of Dublin during their Leinster hurling under-21 semi-final in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Photograph: Inpho
Thu Jun 26 2014 - 01:30

Dublin 2-8 Westmeath 0-13 Dublin survived an almighty scare in Mullingar last night before they overcame their hosts Westmeath by the narrowest of margins to qualify for the Leinster Under-21 hurling final.

Played in wet conditions, the first half contained a lot of scrappy hurling. Colm Cronin’s fifth-minute goal put the metropolitans ahead by 1-3 to 0-2, but a gutsy home side battled back with some fine points from free-taker Niall O’Brien and lively team captain Aonghus Clarke at centre half forward.

Goal lead

Paul Winters was also accurate from placed balls and Dublin were a goal ahead by the 25th minute. However, three late unanswered points had Westmeath on level terms at the break, 1-6 to 0-9.

Westmeath started the second half brightly but they were unable to convert a lot of possession into scores.

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Impressive Dublin substitute Cian Boland found the net in the 41st minute with the first score of the second half.

Winters soon added a free, but Westmeath again came storming back. They spurned some good opportunities from play and placed balls, but an O’Brien free in the 54th minute still tied up the scoring at 2-7 to 0-13. However, the same player failed to convert a penalty two minutes later, allowing Boland to emerge as his side’s hero with the winning point in the 59th minute.

DUBLIN: C Dooley; M McCaffrey C O'Callaghan, S McClelland; E O'Donnell, R Murphy, C Crummy; D Gormley, C Robinson; P Winters (0-4, three frees), K O'Flynn, C Cronin (1-0); C Conway (0-2), A Clabby (0-1), O O'Rorke. Subs: C Boland (1-1) for Conway (h-t), A Jameson Murphy for O'Donnell (44 mins), T Devlin for D Gormley (46 mins), F McGibb for O'Flynn (51 mins). WESTMEATH: K Glennon; P Fennell, T Doyle, L Varley; G Greville, T Gallagher, M Heeney; D Fennell (0-1), D Lynch; R Greville (0-2), A Clarke (0-2), J Boyle; N O'Brien (0-8, six frees, one 65), C Scally, D Higgins. Subs: N Kirby for Scally (53 mins), C Scally for D Fennell (55 mins). Referee: K Brady (Louth).