LEINSTER MFC: Kildare1-13 Dublin 0-13:TITLE HOLDERS Dublin were ousted from the Leinster minor championship at Navan's Páirc Tailteann last night as Kildare prevailed in a highly exciting quarter-final second replay.
It was the fourth clash of the teams in the current championship, Kildare having defeated the young Dubs by four points in the first round, before they could not be separated in two subsequent encounters.
Thy were again evenly matched for most of the opening quarter before Kildare blitzed their opponents with a goal and three points in a five-minute spell to go into a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage with 18 minutes played.
Pádraig Fogarty punched in the goal after 15 minutes when getting to a dropping ball from Fionn Dowling and with Paul Cribben sending over three well-taken points, the young Lilywhites led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.
Cribben made his mark with three well-taken points from play and the wing forward added two more in the third quarter .
Points from Cribben and Liam McGovern (free) left Kildare five points (1-10 to 0-8) to the good with 41 minutes played. However, spearheaded by Ciarán Kilkenny, Dublin raised their game considerably in the second period.
Substitute Colin Woods also made an impact with a contribution of two points, one of them from a sideline kick. However, the Dubs struggled in their efforts to get scores from play and that was proved to be a big failing.
Full forward Kilkenny, who played a deep role, struck five points, four from frees, to add to three in the first half as the deficit was pared down to the minimum.
The fifth of them was a brilliant effort from play from the sideline.
But that turned out to be Dublin’s last score as Kildare responded with points from Dowling (free) and wing-back Marcus Duke and those scores sealed the issue at the end of a marathon struggle.
The Kildare contingent celebrated as if the championship had been won with a pitch invasion following the final whistle while disconsolate Dublin trooped off.
KILDARE: M Donnellan; M Konstatin, J Byrne, B Egan; M Duke (0-1), T Moolick, J Comerford; S Hurley (0-2, one free), K Feely; L McGovern (0-3, two frees), P Cocoman, P Cribben (0-5); N Kelly, P Fogarty (1-1), F Dowling (0-1). Subs: T Gibbons for Hurley (34 mins); F Conway for Cocoman (44); C Plunkett for Kelly (60).
DUBLIN: C Murphy; M Durcan, D Byrne, M Gibbs; N McGovern, A Caffrey (0-1), A Fallon; L Fletcher, P O'Curry; C Diamond, F Duffy, H Dawson (0-1); S Stewart (0-1), C Kilkenny (0-8, six frees), P Ryan. Subs: J McCaffrey for Gibbs (25 mins); D McCabe for Byrne (27); C Woods (0-2, one sideline) for Diamond (36); JJ Martin for Ryan (47); R Basquel for Duffy (56).
Referee: D Brazil (Offaly).
Next Up...
In the semi-finals, Longford will host Kildare, while Offaly have home advantage against Laois.
