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Dublin's Andrew Foley (file photo). Ryan Byrne/INPHO

O'Callaghan inspires Dublin minors in Leinster semi-final win

Cyril Kevlihan’s men will face Kildare in the final after a 6-13 to 0-6 victory over Offaly.

Dublin 6-13
Offaly 0-6

CAPTAIN CON O’CALLAGHAN shot a brilliant 2-6 as Dublin’s minors created a little piece of Leinster championship history.

The Sky Blues were never in danger in Tullamore and wrapped up their semi-final victory by half-time when they led by 13 points.

The 25-point win means Dublin have remarkably qualified for all three finals in both codes at minor, U-21 and senior level.

Cyril Kevlihan’s minor side will take on Kildare in the underage decider at Croke Park on Sunday week.

Hosts Offaly were fancied to put up a decent challenge after shooting 7-30 past Kilkenny and then hammering Westmeath.

But they were no match for a Dublin side who camped in Offaly’s half early on and strode into a big lead.

O’Callaghan got Dublin’s first goal after six minutes and strikes from Chris Sallier and Aaron Byrne late in the half secured a 3-7 to 0-3 interval lead.

Offaly didn’t get beyond the half-way line for long spells and leaked two more goals early in the second-half.

O’Callaghan was first to hit the net in the 32nd minute before Sallier finished soccer style from close range after good work by Colm Basquel after 34 minutes.

The strikes put Dublin 5-7 to 0-3 up though Offaly continued to battle on in front of around 4,000.

Dylan Hyland converted his second free and shot 0-3 for the evening and Adam Mangan shot 0-2.

But it was mere consolation and Dublin wrapped up a thoroughly one-sided contest with their sixth goal late on.

Sallier’s long ball in was poorly parried by goalkeeper Cain Brereton and sub Rian McBride, a minor hurling finalist last weekend, palmed in from close range.

Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 2-6 (3f), Chris Sallier 2-2, Aaron Byrne and R McBride 1-0 each, Eoghan McHugh and Colm Basquel 0-2 each, Warren Egan 0-1 (1 45).Scorers for Offaly: Dylan Hyland 0-3 (3f), Adam Mangan 0-2, Adam Mahon 0-1.

DUBLIN
1. Eiven Whelan (Trinity Gaels)
2. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis)
3. Jack Mullins (St Brigid’s)
4. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
5. Aodhan Fee (Naomh Mearnog)
6. Shane Clayton (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
7. Glenn O’Reilly (Na Fianna)
8. Andrew Foley (Clontarf)
9. Eoghan McHugh (Na Fianna)
10. Warren Egan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
11. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
12. Jack Burke (St Maur’s)
13. Aaron Byrne (Na Fianna)
14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
15. Chris Sallier (Thomas Davis)

Substitutes:
20. Donal McIlgorm (Skerries Harps) for Foley (35)
17. Conor Kavanagh (Ballymun Kickhams) for O’Reilly (42)
23. Rian McBride (St Vincent’s) for O’Callaghan (47)
22. Aaron Elliot (Ballymun Kickhams) for Burke (51)
21. Brian Howard (Raheny) for Sallier (54)
18. Declan Monaghan (Clontarf) for Murphy (55)

OFFALY
1. Cain Brereton (Edenderry)
2. Aaron Whelan (Gracefield)
3. James Lalor (Raheen)
4. Clint Horan (Killeigh)
6. Jack Egan (Ferbane)
8. Cathal Mangan (Kilclonfert)
7. Colm Doyle (Clara)
5. Jack Egan (Ferbane)
9. David Maloney (Edenderry)
10. Ryan Heavin (Shannonbridge)
18. Adam Mangan (Kilclonfert)
12. Jack Walshe (Gracefield)
14. Ruairi McNamee (Rhode)
11. Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks)
13. Dylan Hyland (Raheen)

Substitutes:
20. Cillian Kiely (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Egan (17)
15. Shane Tierney (Daingean) for McNamee (18)
19. Jamie Evans (Gracefield) for Heavin (h/t)
17. Paul O’Toole (Tullamore) for Horan (h/t)
21. Christian Brazil (Shannonbridge) for Maloney (36)
22. Ciaran Farrell (Edenderry) for Dunican (41)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).

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Paul Keane
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