Leinster U21FC final: Lake fall as Dubs take title

April 04, 2010
Dublin finished strongly to beat Westmeath by 1-12 to 0-9 in the 2010 Leinster U21 FC final at Parnell Park.

Having bossed the first half, the Dubs led by six at the interval but were left reeling by a blistering second-half revival.

Spirited Westmeath play had the winners clinging to a one-point lead with a minute left. But Ciaran Dorney's late goal - followed by two quickfire points - saw a relieved Dubs combo across the winning line.

Dublin led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. Dean Rock (free) opened the scoring before Calum McCormack levelled for the visitors.

James McCarthy, corner back Jonathan Cooper, Barry O'Rourke and Dorney put the Sky Blues into a strong position but Conor Lynam replied for the Lake County.

The Dubs got three of the next four points - Rock landing his second and third of the match before James Durkan (Westmeath) and Dublin substitute David Quinn were all on target.

This match had a dramatic turnaround after the resumption…

Dublin led by 0-9 to 0-3 at the break but Westmeath - inspired by Lynam (who struck 0-5 in the second half, including four frees) battled back to within a point to leave the game in the melting pot with time almost up, 0-10 to 0-9.

Rock had got the Metropolitans' only score of the second half to date and the brave Lake men were rallying for a levelling score.

However, a Dorney goal with just over a minute to go made it 1-10 to 0-9 and effectively finished the game as a contest.

Westmeath were now a broken team and Dublin added points from Ted Furman and Rock (free) to book an All-Ireland semi-final date with Roscommon.

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