Kildare 1-14
Meath 0-12

Kildare ended Meath's bid for a sixth Leinster Vocational Schools SF title in a row with a merited semi-final win at Newbridge on Saturday.

Kildare reached this stage courtesy of the second chance saloon, but hit ground running to dethrone Meath.

Declan Crean's charges raced to a 1-12 to 0-3 interval lead and but for an important 54th minute save by 'keeper David Byrne from Meath sub Tony Smith the home side might have been in trouble.

With a slight wind behind them, Kildare put a significant deposit on a final date with Dublin when playing into the town goal in the opening 30 minutes.

Using their pace and strength to good effort, Kildare weaved some silken moves that were decorated by some fine scores from distance with Wayne Fitzpatrick prominent.

Gary Savage and Aaron Bannon-Whelan gave the home side a firm foothold at midfield. Cathal Jennings chipped in with 1-3 from play.

Seven different players contributed from play as Kildare opened up a double-digit interval lead.

At the break it seemed as if Kildare - who lost to Dublin in the opening round - could extend their 12-point lead.

To their credit, Kit Henry's charges upped their game on the resumption despite having lost midfielder Shane McEntee with a hamstring injury.

Within a minute of the restart Oisin Reilly's goal attempt crashed against the woodwork while Ryan Carey's follow-up was smothered by Byrne.

Eamon Wallace - Meath's sole scorer in the opening half - was central to the Meath rally bringing his tally to 0-6 from play.

Oisin Reilly was also prominent after the change of ends and his two fine efforts from play were the pick of his quartet of points.

When the St Ciaran's Kells student landed a 49th minute free the gap was down to five points, 0-10 to 1-12.

It wasn't until the 52nd minute that Kildare registered their first second-half score, a Neil Flynn free.

Some valiant defending prevented Kildare from getting in for a goal with substitute Leon McCabe having their best chance of finding the net.

Points from Wallace and Reilly (free) cut the gap to just four points in the second minute of stoppage. There was still time for Conor Davin to ease Kildare nerves with the game's final score.

Kildare - D. Byrne; H. Faherty, T. O'Connell, E. Farrelly; C. O'Donoghue, B. Nolan, E. Dempsey; A. Bannon-Whelan (0-1), G. Savage (0-1); C. Jennings (1-3), C. Davin (0-2), R. Casey; W. Fitzpatrick (0-4, 1f, 1sl), E. O'Keeffe (0-1), N. Flynn (0-2, 1f). Subs - L. McCabe for O'Keeffe (47), J. Kennedy for O'Connell (60).

Meath - S. Rooney; G. Deery, P. Gallagher, N. Lenehan; C. Carton, B. Power, S. O'Brien; S. McEntee, M. Brogan; O. Reilly (0-4, 2fs), E. Wallace (0-6), C Griffin; P. Donnellan (0-2, 1f), C. O'Brien, R. Carey. Subs - N. Carolan for McEntee (28), T. Smith for Carey, R. McMahon for Donnellan (both 45), C. Smith for O'Brien, A. Hughes for Brogan (both 60).

Referee - J. Hickey (Carlow). Tweet

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