Offaly 0-8
Kildare 0-7

Offaly withstood a late onslaught from 14-man Kildare to book their place in the last four of the Cadbury Leinster U21FC at Gracefield last night.

Pascal Kelleghan's charges, who had taken out Meath in the first round, were leading by 0-7 to 0-5 when Kildare had corner back Mickey Kelly sent off on a second yellow card nine minutes into the second half. But despite their numerical advantage, the hosts could only manage one more point from James McPadden in the 48th minute to establish a 0-8 to 0-6 lead.

Fionn Dowling's point left the minimum in it, but despite laying siege on the Offaly goal in the closing stages, Kildare couldn't muster an equaliser and were left to rue three missed opportunities as Offaly held on for a semi-final meeting with Louth.

Offaly were the better team for much of the first half, and with senior star Anton Sullivan in fine form, they led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 23 minutes. But two points from midfielder Kevin Feeley left Kildare trailing by the minimum, 0-5 to 0-4, at the break.

Offaly - G Shiels; D Hanlon, E Rigney, J Kavanagh; S Hannon (0-1), J Ledwith, J McPadden (0-1); M Brazil, D Kelly; D Hogan, A Sullivan (0-4), G Guilfoyle; T Spain, B Allen (0-2), M Young. Subs - S Cullen for Guilfoyle, C Donoghue for Hanlon, G Guilfoyle for Young, A McDonagh for Spain.

Kildare - M Donnellan; M Kelly, M Konstantin, B Egan; E Powderly, E Doyle, C O'Shea; W Burke, K Feeley (0-3); C Reynolds, T Moolick, S Hurley (0-1); D Mulhall, P Fogarty (0-1), L McGovern (0-1). Subs - C Bolton for Mulhall, F Dowling (0-1) for Moolick, D Flynn for Reynolods.

Ref - D Gough (Meath).

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