A 28th minute goal from Mark Waters proved pivotal as Kildare secured a 1-8 to 1-7 win over Dublin in an entertaining Cadbury's Leinster U21 FC clash at Newbridge. In booking a place in the penultimate stage of the competition against Carlow, the hosts had to rally from a standing start after Dublin made a positive start to the match. Jim Gavin's charges were the liveliest in the early stages but Glenn Ryan's men responded well and they notched a decisive score when midfielder Mark Waters fetched Gavin Smullen's miss-hit pointed effort on the edge of the square before striking a fine left foot shot beyond Philip Brogan in the Dublin goal. Waters' major helped propel Kildare into a 1-4 to 0-5 interval lead and things got worse for the visitors just after the break when Diarmuid Connolly was dismissed. However the hosts proceeded to come under strong pressure from Dublin over the final quarter as they sought to eat into Kildare's five point lead. Kevin Nolan struck 1-1 for the Metropolitans in a grandstand finish but Kildare held firm to progress in the competition. Tweet

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