Dublin retained the Leinster under 21 title.
EIRGRID LEINSTER UNDER 21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
DUBLIN 2-14 KILDARE 0-17
After extra-time
By Paul Keane at Pairc Tailteann, Navan
Con O'Callaghan dragged dogged Dublin to a three-in-a-row of EirGrid Leinster U-21 football titles with a 1-7 haul in Navan to tip an extra-time epic their way.
Dessie Farrell's Dubs trailed by seven points at one stage early in the game, but showed real character to battle back to force extra-time at Pairc Tailteann.
O'Callaghan added three points in the extra period, while Cillian O'Shea struck a crucial 69th minute goal that ultimately separated the neighbouring counties after a terrific tussle.
Defeat was tough on Kildare who had a star in Neil Flynn, who shot 10 points and was his team's heartbeat for the second year running in a Leinster final against Dublin, but defeat was the outcome again.
The Lilies, who beat Dublin at minor level in the 2013 Championship, initially roared into a 0-9 to 0-2 lead after 27 minutes and put on an exhibition of point taking with Ben McCormack central to the onslaught.
The Maynooth forward kicked five points in that period, the first from his left foot and the rest off his right. Flynn was excellent too, slipping his man out on the left wing at one stage before blasting over a point from 30 metres out.
Luke Flynn and Con O Callaghan in action during the Leinster under 21 final.
Dublin looked nervous early on and O'Callaghan, their only senior panellist, who hit 0-5 and 1-7 tallies against Laois and Meath in previous rounds, wasted two frees from scoreable range.
But the Cuala talent made up for it with a timely goal in the 27th minute that turned the game on its head. The close range snipe left just four in it and Dublin reduced that deficit to two at the break, 0-10 to 1-5.
For all of Kildare's excellence up front, they were troubled at the back when Dublin attacked and the Sky Blues had three decent goal chances aside from the one O'Callaghan poached.
Dublin were finally back on level terms two minutes into the second-half following points from joint-captain Andrew Foley and O'Callaghan, 1-7 to 0-10.
They took the lead for the first time in the 49th minute through Glenn O'Reilly, but a tense and exciting contest was back level after 54 minutes when Flynn converted a 45.
Both sides had opportunities to win it in normal time with Lorcan Molloy and Paddy Small going close for Dublin, while sub Mark Sherry sliced a late Kildare goal chance just wide.
Bryan Murphy's Kildare were left to rue that miss as they were outscored by 1-3 to 0-3 in the additional 20 minutes.
Scorers for Dublin: C O'Callaghan 1-7 (5fs), C O'Shea 1-0, G O'Reilly 0-2, C Basquel 0-1, C Sallier 0-1, A Foley 0-1, B Howard 0-1, M Cahilan 0-1.
Scorers for Kildare: N Flynn 0-10 (3fs, 3 45s), B McCormack 0-5, P Connell 0-1, C Healy 0-1
Dublin: L Molloy; E Smith, S McMahon, D Monaghan; C O'Shea, B Howard, M Cahilan; A Foley, D McIlgorm; K Deeley, C Basquel, G O'Reilly; C Sallier, C O'Callaghan, D Spillane.
Subs: S Clayton for O'Shea (5), A Elliot for McIlgorm (15), K Doherty for Foley (29-33, blood), E Murchan for Monaghan (h/t), P Small for Spillane (h/t), M Deegan for Elliot (47), C O'Shea for Sallier (e/t), K Doherty for O'Reilly (68), D Spillane for Murchan (76), T O'Sullivan for Smith (79).
Kildare: D Campbell; P Mescal, D Maguire, E Bateman; R Houlihan, S Ryan, B Byrne; L Flynn, P Connell; C Kavanagh, C McMonagle, C Hartley; B McCormack, C Healy, N Flynn.
Subs: M Hyland for Byrne (30), R Feely for Hartly (38), M Sherry for McMonagle (43), C Scanlon for Healy (54), B Kelly for Scanlon (e/t), C Scanlon for McCormack (68), D Malone for Maguire (76), C Healy for Feely (79).
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).
