Offaly and Dublin will meet in the Leinster U20HC final in Portlaoise next Wednesday evening after accounting for Kilkenny and Galway respectively last night.

Roared on by an 8,000-strong crowd at Glenisk O'Connor Park, holders Offaly held on for a dramatic 2-17 to 2-16 victory over Kilkenny. 

Shane Rigney bagged 2-3, while Liam Hoare saved a penalty as Leo O'Connor side's prevailed by the minimum. Rigney's first green flag in the 23rd minute helped the Faithful to a 1-9 to 0-11 interval lead, but eight unanswered points either side of the break had the Cats 0-15 to 1-9 in front after 38 minutes.

Offaly then regained the initiative thanks to Rigney's second goal along with four frees from Adam Screeney. However, Kilkenny almost pulled off the great escape through late goals from Niall Shortall and Harry Shine (free), with points in between from Screeney and Alex Kavanagh ensuring the hosts kept their noses in front.

In the other semi-final at Laois Hire O'Moore Park, county senior Diarmuid Ó Dulaing inspired Dublin to a surprisingly comfortable 4-17 to 0-20 win over Galway.

When the sides met in the group stages four weeks ago, the Tribesmen triumphed by 4-14 to 0-10, but Dublin turned the tables in fine style with Ó Dulaing scoring 1-6 and David Purcell hitting two goals.

Ó Dulaing netted straight from the throw-in before Purcell added a second major in the seventh minute. Fergal Healy's Galway side replied with points from Matthew Tarpey, Conor Dolphin and Cullen Killeen before further Dublin scores from Fionn Murphy and Conal Ó Riain left them perched on a 2-10 to 0-10 half-time lead.

Galway narrowed the gap to three points, 0-18 to 2-15, after 55 minutes before the Dubs struck for late goals from substitute Conor Newton and Purcell to seal victory.

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