Kildare reclaim Leinster U20 football title with dramatic extra-time win over Dublin

It looked like Dublin would gain revenge for defeat in last year’s final when they were a point ahead in the third minute of injury time but Colm Dalton strode forward to kick a nerveless equalising point and from there Kildare dominated the extra time period.

Kildare played against the breeze in the first half and trailed by 0-7 to 0-5 at the half time break. There had been little to choose between the teams during that opening half and the closest either team came to a goal was when Luke Ward’s shot was deflected over the bar by goalkeeper Cormac Barker.

Dublin led by three points twice during the second half but Kildare responded with a great spell when they scored four points in a row, man of the match Ryan Sinkey kicking his fourth point during that spell.

Bill Costello levelled the game in the 53rd minute and it looked like Joe Quigley would be the Dublin when he converted a 57th minute free but Dalton’s point meant extra time was needed.

With the effort of the game showing on both sides it was Kildare who had the edge in the extra time.

They led by a point at half time before goalkeeper Cormac Barker came forward to kick an important free to push his team three clear.

Dublin pushed hard in the final minutes and launched balls in on big Michael McDonald on the edge of the square but Kildare defended well to retain a Leinster title at this grade for the first time since 60s.

Scorers – Kildare: R Sinkey 0-4, C Dalton 0-3, S Farrell 0-2 (2fs), C Bolton 0-2, A Fanning 0-2, O O'Sullivan 0-2, C Barker 0-1f. Dublin: J Quigley 0-5 (3fs), R Keogh 0-4 (3fs), G McEneaney 0-1, S Smith 0-1, L Ward 0-1, B Costello 0-1.

Kildare:C Barker; H O’Neill, T Von Engelbrechten, R Burke; J Harris, J McGrath, J McKevitt; F Cooke, S Farrell; R Sinkey, C Bolton, C Dalton; A Fanning, O O’Sullivan, E Cully. Subs: S Hanafin for Cully, 42; D Swords for Cooke, 53; E Mountaine for Von Engelbrechten (60 et); N Dolan for Sinkey, 65; F Ó Giolláin for Burke, 66; D Guerin for McGrath, 74.

Dublin:A Smyth; F Bruton, T Clancy, E Nugent; D O’Leary, G McEneaney, A Gavin; E Dunne, M McDonald; C Dolan, L Ward, S Smith; D Dempsey, J Quigley, R Keogh. Subs: B Costello for Dempsey, h/t; J Cotter for Smith, 45; T Brennan for McDonald, 50; D McGrath for O’Leary, 50; Dara McGrath for Dan O'Leary, 60; C McMorrow for Cotter, 60; M McDonald for Costello, 64; C Moriarty for Quigley, 70; C Burke for Conor Dolan, 77.

Referee: A Coyne (Westmeath).