Leinster U20HC: Late goals fire Dubs into semis

Dublin attacker Liam Murphy

Dublin will face Wexford in the semi-finals of the Leinster U20 hurling championship after battling past Offaly with two late goals in Birr this afternoon.

It finished 2-16 to 0-16 at St Brendan’s Park, where Darach McBride and Kevin Desmond landed the two crucial scores in the closing eight minutes to steer the capital men into the last four.

Early points from Cathal Kiely (frees) had saw Offaly lead by the odd point in five after 12 minutes but the visitors outscored them by 0-7 to 0-4 to lead by two at the break.

Liam Murphy’s frees continued to sail over for the Dubs after the restart and Micheál Murphy would have them three to the good by the 38th minute.

The visitors clawed it back though thanks to frees from Kiely and had the game level a 0-14 apiece come the 47th minute.

Five minutes later however, the sliotar would be in Offaly’s net via St Vincent's sharpshooter McBride and when substitute Desmond raised another green flag on 55 minutes Dublin’s passage to a last four date against Wexford next Friday night at Dr Cullen Park (throw-in 8pm) was safely sealed.

Dublin - E Gibbons (0-3f); T Kinnane (0-2), A Dunphy, B Sheehy; I O Heither, K Burke, E O’Donnell; D Power (0-1), M Sweeney; D McBride (1-1), M Murphy (0-2), L McDwyer; D Purcell, B Ryan (0-1), L Murphy (0-5f). Subs: K Desmond (1-0) for D Purcell, P Linehan (0-1) for B Ryan, D Leavy for D Power, M Conroy for E O’Donnell, L Dunne for L McDwyer.

Offaly - E Cleary; R Carty (0-1), C Butler, D Maher; R Ravenhill, P Cantwell, J Screeney; L Nolan, K McDermott (0-1); K Sampson (0-1), C Donoghue (0-1), B Duignan (0-1); C O’Meara (0-1), C Kiely (0-10, 7f, 2'65), C Flynn. Subs: L Kavanagh for C Donoghue, N Lyons for C Flynn, M Watkins for C O’Meara, C Brady for B Duignan.

Referee - P Murphy.

It's all over in Birr & our U20 hurlers are into the Leinster Semi-Final next Friday 👕💪#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/K7EFpOWC5r

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) December 12, 2020