Bord Gais Energy Leinster U-21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Dublin 2-17 Westmeath 1-14

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park

Dublin attacker Chris Bennett did the damage with a 2-6 haul as Westmeath's brave Bord Gais Energy Leinster U-21 hurling title challenge came to an abrupt end.

The Lake County pulled off a massive shock by dumping out Kilkenny in the quarter-finals, but found Dublin a tougher nut to crack on their home patch at Parnell Park.

Bennett was excellent for the Sky Blues, while senior panelist Cian Boland impressed as a sub with 0-3 to help set up a final clash with Carlow or Offaly on July 6.

Dublin are chasing a first provincial title since 2011 though Westmeath will kick themselves for failing to advance to a first ever decider after the huge win over Kilkenny.

Their brave bid for history was bang on track initially as they led 1-4 to 0-2 approaching the quarter-hour mark and another shock looked to be on the cards.

Niall Mitchell opened their scoring with a wonderful sideline cut from beneath the main stand.

Westmeath's top scorer Ciaran Doyle put them 0-4 to 0-2 up before the full-forward struck for a 13th minute goal that put clear daylight between the sides.

Eoghan O'Donnell, who made his senior Championship debut against Kilkenny last weekend, failed to clear a high ball into the goalmouth and Doyle kicked in.

Westmeath only managed two more points for the rest of the half as Dublin finally came alive.

The hosts turned things around to lead by 0-10 to 1-6 at half-time and closed out the half with five points in a row including two from Bennett.

Adrian Moran's Westmeath were twice level after the restart, but Bennett's first goal in the 39th minute put Dublin into a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

His second, a 48th minute bullet from 20 metres after a strong run, nudged the Dubs 2-13 to 1-11 clear. Sean Treacy, Sean O Riaian, Bennett and Boland all added late points as Westmeath chased goals in a vain attempt to rescue the game.

**Scorers for Dublin: **C Bennett 2-6 (5fs), AJ Murphy 0-3, C Boland 0-3, S O Riain 0-2, C O'Neill 0-1, P O'Dea 0-1, S Treacy 0-1 (1f).

Scorers for Westmeath: C Doyle 1-7 (5fs), D Clinton 0-3 (2fs) N Mitchel 0-2 (1 sideline), J Galvin 0-1, W Casserly 0-1.

Dublin: J Treacy; E O'Donnell, J Madden, C Hendricken; J Bellew, C MacGabhann, P O'Dea; M McCallion, J Malone; E McHugh, AJ Murphy, S Treacy; C O'Neill, S O Riain, C Bennett.

Subs: C Boland for McHugh (20), R McBride for McCallion (38), F O Riain Broin for O'Dea (42), S Gray for Murphy (47), B Bolger for Bellew (55).

Westmeath: S Maher; A Cox, C Shaw, M Heeney; J Rabbitte, L Varley, R Gillen; W Casserly, K Doyle; D Egerton, L Cassidy, N Mitchell; J Galvin, C Doyle, D Clinton

Subs: P Scally for Cassidy (h/t), D Giles for Cox (43).

Referee: B Redmond (Wexford).