Leinster U21FC quarter-final roundup
March 07, 2010Brendan Hackett's Westmeath will face Laois on St. Patrick's Day after they recovered from an early four-point deficit to brush aside the challenge of neighbours Meath by 2-14 to 1-11 at Cusack Park. Colm O'Rourke's young Royals were quickly into stride and led by 0-5 to 0-1 after 12 minutes thanks to the brilliance of their attacker leader Brian Sheridan.
But following the switch of Kieran Martin onto the big full forward, Westmeath gradually clawed their way back into the game and goals from Paul Sharry and James Durkan had the teams level, 2-3 to 0-9, at the interval.
While the Royals had a goal and a point after the restart to open up a two-point lead, they wouldn't score again for 24 minutes as Westmeath blitzed them with 10 unanswered points. Westmeath's 17-year-old midfielder John Heslin gave an exhibition of high fielding and long-range point-taking as the Lake County eased into the last four.
In Aughrim, Portlaoise's Paul Cahillane shone for Laois as they overcame Wicklow by 0-13 to 0-10. The sides were level on four occasions during the first half before Cahillane pointed to give the visitors a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the break.
Laois extended their lead on the restart, but the Garden County had the margin back down to the minimum with 10 minutes remaining. However, a late brace of points from Cahillane sealed the O'Moore County's win.
Carlow, who lost the 2007 Leinster minor final to Laois, recorded a dramatic 2-14 to 1-15 extra-time victory over Tom Cribben's Offaly in Tullamore. The home side looked set to prevail until former Sydney Swans player Brendan Murphy swooped for the winning goal three minutes from the end.
An Eddie Byrne goal had given the visitors a dream start, but Offaly battled back to trail by 0-6 to 1-7 at the interval. Michael Brazil's goal brought the Faithful back into it in the second half and it took extra-time to separate the sides after they had finished on 1-11 apiece at the end of normal time.
The Barrowsiders' semi-final opponents will be Dublin, who also needed extra-time to see off Louth by 1-14 to 1-8 in Drogheda. Substitute David Quinn was the Dublin hero, scoring three points in the second period of extra-time to finally break the Wee County's resistance.
Jim Gavin's Dublin kicked a massive 21 wides, but still led by 1-2 to 0-4 at half-time courtesy of Dean Rock's goal. When Dara Nelson was sent off on a straight red card seven minutes into the second half, Louth fought their way back into it and a goal from Jim McEneaney had them three points clear with 13 minutes remaining.
But late points from Rock and team captain John Cooper forced extra-time, during which the Dubs finally discovered their scoring touch. Tweet
