EIRGRID LEINSTER AND MUNSTER U-20 FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

Cork 3-12 Kerry 3-11

Tipperary 0-11 Waterford 0-9

Dublin 4-7 Meath 0-13

Offaly 1-11 Westmeath 1-9

A 64th minute point from Ciaran O’Sullivan helped Cork to end Kerry’s quest for back-to-back Munster titles at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight. This game seemed destined for an additional 20 minutes after a Paul O’Shea penalty and a Sean Quilter free helped Kerry level the contest in injury time, however, O’Sullivan’s late score helped Cork secure a memorable win and secure a measure of revenge for their defeat to their oldest rivals in last year’s provincial decider.

The first half saw both sides enjoy periods of dominance. Darragh Lyne and Dylan Geaney goals helped Kerry on their way but the Rebels responded with a Jack Cahalane major while a Conor Corbett goal on the stroke of half time gave Cork a one-point lead. Keith Ricken’s Cork side moved seven points clear with Corbett rattling the Kerry net. Paul O’Shea scored a penalty for Kerry as his side clawed at the Cork lead but O’Sullivan’s late fisted point sealed Cork’s Munster final place.

Tipperary held their nerve as they outlasted Waterford to secure their first Munster final appearance since beating Cork in the 2015 final. The Premier County failed to win a game in the U-21/U-20 competition since that provincial success until they defeated Limerick last week. In a game that finished 0-11 to 0-9, Waterford kicked the first four scores of the game but Tipperary maintained their composure to kick five of the next six scores to level the game at half time. Paddy Christie’s Tipperary side managed to move three points clear in the second half after Waterford captain Niall McSweeney spent 10 minutes in the sin bin. The Déise cut their deficit to a point but a late score from captain Sean O’Connor, which brought his personal tally to six points, was enough for Tipperary to prevail.

Dublin continued their quest for three Leinster titles in a row as they withstood a fightback by Meath to win 4-7 to 0-13 in Navan. With Dublin leading by three points approaching injury time, goalkeeper Jake Turley made a critical save to maintain his side’s lead as an Adam Fearon goal added some extra gloss to the scoreline. A Luke Swan goal in the opening quarter helped Dublin raced 1-4 to 0-1 ahead at the first water break. The sides only kicked a point each in the second quarter but quickfire goals from Mark Lavin and Lorcan O’Dell after half time helped Dublin move 10 points clear. With Luke Mitchell in fine form Meath chipped away at the Dublin lead as they cut their deficit to three points. However, Turley’s save and Fearon’s late goal ensured Dublin survived.

Offaly will face Dublin in the Leinster final after they held on to beat Westmeath 1-11 to 1-9 at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar. This game was on a knife edge at the second water break with the sides level at 1-8 apiece but Jack Bryant, who finished with seven points, kicked a brace of scores and Aaron Kellaghan kicked a point of his own to seal Offaly’s place in the decider.

Westmeath were only able to muster a Ben McGauran free in injury time as a response. Cormac Egan found the net for Offaly in the opening quarter which helped them to a 1-1 to 0-2 lead at the water break. Devin Hill responded with a top notch goal for Westmeath as he finished to the roof of the net from just outside the 13m line. Westmeath took their first lead after 41 minutes when Liam Moran put them 1-8 to 1-7 ahead, but Offaly levelled the contest and went on to kick four points in succession to secure a place in next Thursday’s final and a shot at their first Leinster U-21/U-20 title since 1995.