Two points in the latter stages from substitute Adrian McAndrew fired Kildare to a minimum margin Ring Cup SH semi-final win over Meath in difficult conditions at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday evening and into a final meeting with Westmeath on August 5. Kildare ...... 1-14 Meath ........ 1-13 McAndrew's brace of scores left it 1-14 to 1-11 and a late Meath rally almost saw them snatch a place in the third final of the competition that honours the game's greatest ever player. In the first of five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game, Mike Cole's goal bound effort was scooped away by Kildare netminder Conor Cunningham. However, Kildare, who finished runners-up to Carlow in Group B, deservedly held on. A trio of points from Toomevara man Paddy O'Brien got Kildare off to a flying start and they were 1-5 to 0-2 ahead when Brendan Byrne pounced on a break ball in the 15th minute. Another Toomevara man, Eoin Brislane was prominent in Meath's recovery and when he placed Stephen Clynch for a point the gap was down to a goal. Then Ger O'Neill fielded a long delivery from team captain Mike Cole and the sides were level, 1-6 each, with 24 minutes gone. A Clynch point from near from out on the right hand side saw Meath hit the front for the first time, in the 27th minute and by half-time John Andrews' men led by 1-9 to 1-7. Paudie Reidy from the Buffer's Alley club in Wexford and David Kennedy, who plays out of the Loughmore/Castleiney club in Tipperary were prominent at the back for the Lilywhites, who conceded just 0-4 in the second-half. Michael Foley, Enda Fitzgerald and David Donnelly did well at the back for Meath while goalkeeper Stephen Quinn saved well from a McAndrew flick, when the sides were tied at 1-10 each. Kildare outscored Meath by 0-6 to 0-1 between the 46th and 65th minutes while Brislane was the only forward from the losing side to score from play in the second period. Ben Dorney's charge might have won by a wider margin but for hitting 15 wides to Meath's six over the hour. While Kildare look forward to a Croke Park date with Westmeath (who beat Carlow by 4-11 to 2-15 in the opening 'semi' played in better conditions at the same venue), Meath can reflect on progress made in their five-match campaign. Kildare - C. Cunningham; T. Finnerty, P. Reidy, R. Tynan; D. Harney, D. Kennedy, K. Bracken; C. Buggy (0-1), B. White (0-6, 3 frees, 2 '65s); K. Divillly (0-1), T. Murphy, P. O'Brien (0-3); B. Byrne (1-1), O. Lynch, T. Spain. Subs - A. McAndrew (0-2) for Spain 35 mins, J. Doran for Finnerty 47 mins, B. Coulston for Murphy 62 mins, D. Maloney for Byrne, 70 mins. Meath - S. Quinn; M. Horan, E. Fitzgerald, M. Foley; C. Keena, D. Donnelly, E. Keogh (0-1); D. Crimmins, C O Mealoid; N. Hackett, E. Brislane (0-2), M. Cole (0-1); G. O'Neill (1-1), S. Clynch (0-2), N. Horan (0-6, frees). Subs - A. Ryan for Hackett (28 mins), K. Dowd O Mealoid (55 mins). Referee - G. Hoey (Clare). Tweet

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