Dublin 2-14
Galway 1-10

Dublin will contest this year’s All-Ireland U20 football championship final after seeing off Galway’s challenge at Pearse Park this evening.

Tom Gray’s side benefited from an electric start in this semi-final clash which saw them 2-1 to nothing in front after just six minutes, with ace attacker Ciaran Archer netting his eighth and ninth goals of his sensational championship campaign to date.

The Dubs’ full-forward struck both goals inside a minute to hand the Tribesmen a devastating start but, to their credit, Padraic Joyce’s charges managed a recovery after half-time with five unanswered points which brought them level come the 42nd minute.

However, an Archer free and point from substitute David Lacey opened up a two-point gap again and the Leinster champions simply pulled away from there to book next month’s final slot against either Cork or Tyrone whom play tomorrow in Tullamore (throw-in 4pm).

Archer opened the evening’s scoring with a third minute free before lashing the ball to the back of Galway’s net in the very next attack when taking a pass from Brian O’Leary and the St Maur’s man made no mistake in finding the top corner of the net.

Check out Ciarán Archer’s first goal for Dublin 😍

📺 @officialgaa #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/JfcK07khtz

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 27, 2019

Archer’s second major a minute later saw him come in along the end line and tuck away for three more points, leaving the Connacht men with a real mountain to climb after only six minutes.

Brian Harlowe’s well-taken goal just about managed to keep them in touch and while Ross McGarry landed a brace of points at other end, Matthew Tierney and Tony Gill stroked over Galway’s third and fourth points to leave it at 2-6 to 1-4 at the half.

Outstanding in their provincial final win over Mayo two weeks ago, Liam Costello was the inspiring figure that saw Galway hit the ground running at the start of the second-half as he helped to create scores struck over by Padraig Costello (free) and Gill.

Rory Cunningham and Padraig Costello drove on the Connacht champions’ purple match with scores that drew the game level with 18 minutes left on the clock, but that was as good as it got for the west siders as a free from Archer was backed up by Lacey for the capital lads.

Archer weighed in with his fifth point after that and Galway were soon needing a goal again which simply did not come their way as Matthew Tierney was denied by a fine save from David O’Hanlon in the Dublin goal.

Dublin - D O’Hanlon; D Maher, D Newcombe, N Matthews; K Kennedy, E O’Dea, S Lambe; P O Cofaigh Byrne, D Ryan; N O’Leary (0-1), K Lynch Bissett, J Doran (0-1); B O’Leary (0-2), C Archer (2-6, 0-4f), R McGarry (0-3). Subs: A Lynch for D Maher, D Lacey (0-1) for D Ryan, H Ladd for B O’Leary.

Galway - O Burke; R Mahon, S Mulkerrin, E McFadden; L Boyle (0-1), C Potter, J Kirrane; M Barrett, M Tierney (0-1); B Harlowe (1-0), L Costello, T Gill (0-3); D Silke, P Costello (0-3, 2f), R Cunningham (0-2). Subs: J Glynn for J Kirrane, C Newell for B Harlowe, C Campbell for C Potter, M O’Brien for J Glynn, E Mannion for T Gill, B O’Connell for L Costello.

Referee - P Hughes.

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