Connacht 2-17

Leinster 1-18

Niall Murphy's late goal proved decisive as Connacht withstood a second half comeback from Leinster at Parnell Park to reach the inter-provincial football final.

Aided by Ciarain Murtagh's first half goal, John Tobin's charges took a commanding 1-10 to 0-7 lead into the interval. But with John Heslin contributing 10 points and his Westmeath team-mate Kieran Martin rattling the net, Leinster fought back to edge ahead, only for the Westerners to produce a late surge that saw them qualify for the decider against either Munster or Ulster.

With Danny Cummins and Jason Doherty among their scorers, Connacht opened up an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead. Heslin kept Leinster in touch with four first half points, including three frees, but Murtagh's 21st minute goal gave the visitors a six-point buffer at the break.

Martin's goal and three unanswered points put Leinster 1-16 to 1-15 ahead, but Connacht were able to respond with points from Cummins and Sligo man Murphy before the latter's 59th minute goal put them four up.

Sean Kelly's Leinster side, however, refused to give up the ghost as Offaly's Graham Guilfoyle fired against the crossbar before late points from club and county team-mates Paul Sharry and Heslin completed the scoring.

Scorers - Connacht: N Murphy 1-3, J Doherty 0-6 (4fs), C Murtagh 1-1,  D Cummins 0-3, F Cregg 0-1, D Comer 0-1, E Smith 0-1, N Daly 0-1. Leinster: J Heslin 0-10 (8fs), K Martin 1-1, D Foley 0-1, J McGrath 0-1, J Byrne 0-1, D Byrne 0-1, P Sharry 0-1 S O'Rourke 0-1, J O'Loughlin 0-1.

Connacht: D Clarke (Mayo); K McDonnell (Sligo), N McInerney (Roscommon), D Wynne (Galway); N Daly (Roscommon), G O'Donnell (Galway), J Heaney (Galway); E Smith (Roscommon), K Higgins (Roscommon); F Cregg (Roscommon), C Murtagh (Roscommon), J Doherty (Mayo); N Murphy (Sligo), D Comer (Galway), D Cummins (Galway). Subs: C O'Shea (Mayo) for E Smith (22), S Mullooly (Roscommon) (22) for J Heaney, D Murtagh (Roscommon) for N Murphy (26), E Mulligan (Leitrim) for C Murtagh (HT), A Varley (Galway) for D Comer (36), E Smith for C O'Shea (41), N Murphy for D Murtagh (43), J Heaney for N McInerney (50), D Wrynn (Leitrim) for K Higgins (53), J McManus (Roscommon) for D Wynne (53) C Murtagh for E Mulligan (55).

Leinster: A Mulhall (Offaly); D Daly (Dublin), K Meaney (Laois), P Rath (Louth); J Dolan (Westmeath), J Small (Dublin), D Healy (Wicklow); J O'Loughlin (Laois), D Foley (Carlow); J McGrath (Wicklow), K Martin (Westmeath), P Sharry (Westmeath); N Dunne (Offaly), J Heslin (Westmeath), N Flynn (Kildare). Subs: D Kingston (Laois) for N Dunne (HT), G Guilfoyle (Offaly) for J McGrath (HT), J Byrne (Kildare) for D Foley (HT), B Malone (Wexford) for P Rath (HT), D Byrne (Louth) for D Healy (HT), D St Ledger (Carlow) for K Meaney (HT), S O'Rourke (Meath) for N Flynn (43), P Cunningham (Offaly) for K Martin (46), P Collum (Longford) for A Mulhall (52), P Rath for J Dolan (58).

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).

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