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Dublin's Bernard Brogan celebrates scoring his sides second goal INPHO/James Crombie
Victory

Dublin have 16 points to spare over Kildare in Leinster semi-final

Dublin registered their biggest championship win over Kildare since 1897.

Dublin 4-16
Kildare 1-9

DUBLIN MARCHED INTO this year’s Leinster senior football final in Croke Park this afternoon with their biggest championship win against Kildare since 1897.

Jim Gavin’s side had far too much strength, power and class for their opponents as they stormed to success in this semi-final clash.

Bernard Brogan grabbed a goal before half-time to edge Dublin in front at the break by 2-7 to 1-5.

And then they took a firm control of the game in the second-half to power clear by 16 points at the finish as Diarmuid Connolly and substitute Eoghan O’Gara raised green flags in the closing period.

The end result was bitterly disappointing for Kildare after they had enjoyed a dream start as they went 1-2 to 0-0 clear in the early stages.

Paddy Brophy skipped clear of the Dublin defence to bury an early goal for Kildare and that gave Kieran McGeeney’s team a real boost.

However Dublin bounced back with Paul Mannion firing to the net after Diarmuid Connolly fed him close to goal.

The teams traded points therafter during the first-half but Dublin started to look stronger with Stephen Cluxton accurate from ’45’s and Ciaran Kilkenny accurate from open play.

Yet Kildare kept in touch with Eoghan O’Flaherty and Johnny Doyle amongst their point-scorers.

But the Lilywhites were rocked before half-time when Brogan crashed the ball to the net for Dublin’s second goal.

And then Dublin took over in the second-half with Cluxton, Kilkenny and substitute Eoghan O’Gara helping them rip Kildare’s defence apart.

Connolly registered Dublin’s third goal to kill off the game as a contest and Kildare were unable to stem the tide as O’Gara raised their fourth green flag before the finish.

Scorers for Dublin: Eoghan O’Gara 1-2, Paul Mannion, Bernard Brogan 1-1 each, Stephen Cluxton (0-4 ’45), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-4 each, Diarmuid Connolly 1-0, Dean Rock 0-2 (0-2f), Ger Brennan, Paddy Andrews 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: Paddy Brophy 1-1, Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-3 (0-1f), Paul Cribbin, Johnny Doyle (0-1f) 0-2 each, Sean Hurley 0-1.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Darren Daly, Rory O’Carroll, Johnny Cooper; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Jack McCaffrey; Michael Darragh MacAuley, Cian O’Sullivan; Diarmuid Connolly, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paul Flynn; Paul Mannion, Paddy Andrews, Bernard Brogan.

Subs: Eoghan O’Gara for Andrews (half-time), Kevin McManamon for Brogan (49), Nicky Devereux for O’Sullivan (61), Kevin O’Brien for Nolan (61), Dean Rock for Connolly (61).

KILDARE: Shane Connolly; Peter Kelly, Hugh McGrillen, David Hyland; Michael Foley, Eamonn Callaghan, Emmett Bolton; Daryl Flynn, Sean Hurley; Eoghan O’Flaherty, Niall Kelly, Paul Cribbin; John Doyle, Daniel Flynn, Paddy Brophy.

Subs: Seanie Johnston for Daniel Flynn (46), Alan Smith for Kelly (49), Morgan O’Flaherty for Callaghan (53), Fionn Dowling for Doyle (54), Padraig O’Neill for Daryl Flynn (55).

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

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