July 7th, 2018

Eirgrid Leinster Under 20 Football Championship Final 

Kildare 1-15 Dublin 0-10

by Robert Cribbin 

Eight points from Jimmy Hyland helped Kildare to the inaugural Under 20 Leinster Football title with a composed victory over Dublin in Tullamore.

The corner forward scored six points from play as he gave the Dubs defence constant trouble but it was a real well rounded team performance that helped them to victory with their defence in particular standing out as they held a decent Dublin team to just ten points.

The win was rubberstamped by seven points on the trot at the end of the first half which helped put Kildare in control.

There was a real open look to the game at the beginning and the Dubs wasted no time in working the scoreboard as Sean Bugler ran from the kickout before offloading for Donal Ryan to score.

Kildare equalised in the 3rd minute when Jimmy Hyland split the posts after the ball broke in midfield and he was found in space.

A swirling wind made shooting difficult for both sides and they were equally as wasteful as each other in kicking a number of wides.

Things did gradually settle down with scores exchanged as Hyland and Paddy Woodgate scored for Kildare with Sean Bugler and Tom Keane responding to leave the teams level at 0-3 apiece.

Dublin emerged from the stranglehold to move into a two point lead halfway through the half as Bugler scored brilliantly from distance to add to a James Doran effort.

Bugler’s point was Dublin’s last of the half however as after Tom Keane had a goalbound effort saved by Aaron O’Neill in the 26th minute, Kildare began to take control as they kicked seven points in a row.

Points from Hyland and Tony Archbold brought the teams level with Hyland then giving the Lillywhites the lead for the first time.

Three minutes of stoppage time were played afterwards and Kildare made full advantage of that extra time during a devastation period as Padraig Nash kicked two brilliant points from range.

Hyland with a free and Brian McLoughlin also scored from the tightest of angles as Kildare with the aid of the breeze raced into a 0-10 to 0-5 lead at the break.

Dublin needed a bright start to the second period and even though Tom Keane reduced the lead with a point the lack of a real goal threat was costing them dear as a ravenous Kildare defence kept them at bay.

Padraig Nash was a real star on the night for Kildare and he proved this in the 36th minute when he made a fool of Nathan Nolan on the sideline before dinking a lovely left footed score between the posts.

Dublin looked to have a small goal chance soon afterwards when the Kildare defence looked at sea but a nice interception from DJ Earley averted the danger even if Ross Garry scored from the resulting move.

That left Dublin four points in arrears but it would be as close as they would get as Kildare’s better class told up front.

Two points from play by Hyland as well as a curling Shane O’Sullivan score then put Kildare into a 0-14 to 0-7 lead.

Dublin did reply with points from Bugler and Keane but it was all academic as after Hyland kicked his eight point, the team in white won a late penalty which Tony Archbold struck home to round off a 1-15 to 0-10 success.

Kildare now go forward to meet Munster Champions Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final next weekend.

Kildare: Aaron O’Neill; Mark Dempsey, Mark Barrett, Jack Bambrick; DJ Earley, Jason Gibbons, Ruadhan O’Giollain; Aaron Masterson, David Marnell; Darragh Ryan, Padraig Nash (0-03), Tony Archbold (1-01); Jimmy Hyland (0-08, 2f), Brian McLoughlin (0-01), Paddy Woodgate (0-01).

Subs: Shane O’Sullivan (0-01) for Nash 37 mins, Cian Costigan for Marnell 48 mins, Sam Doran for Woodgate 52 mins, Niall Murphy for McLoughlin 60 mins, Jack Barrett for Earley 63 mins, Matthew Betts-Symonds for Murphy (Black Card).

Dublin: David O’Hanlon; Nathan Nolan, Nathan Doran, Ciaran Smith; Kieran Kennedy, Neil Matthews, Eoin O’Dea; Donal Ryan (0-01), Cormac Howley; Tom Keane (0-04, 1f), James Madden, Ross McGarry (0-01); Dan O’Brien, James Doran (0-01), Sean Bugler (0-03).

Subs: Karl Lynch Bissett for Howley 33 mins, James Holland for O’Brien 42 mins, Simon King for McGarry 52 mins, Eoin Fitzpatrick for Ryan 56 mins, Daniel Brennan for Doran 58 mins.

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)

Congratulations to Jimmy Hyland who won the Man of the Match Award last night.

Jimmy was superb in his role, kicking 8 points, 6 from play.

Photo credits: Inpho and Sportsfile

Posted in: News, Teams

Date: 07th July 2018