Cian Boland also hit the net for Dublin tonight. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin 2-8
Westmeath 0-13

CIAN BOLAND WAS Dublin’s super sub in Mullingar tonight with a dramatic late winning point to secure their Bord Gais Energy Leinster U-21 hurling final spot.

But defeat was hard for hosts Westmeath to take after coming so close to a maiden final place on July 9th.

They were awarded a 56th minute penalty when the scores were tied but after initially winning it, top scorer Niall O’Brien was then unable to convert the chance.

And Westmeath’s agony was compounded three minutes later when Boland, who’d earlier hit a crucial goal, fired over the winning point. Dublin will need a huge improvement in the final having similarly ground out victory in their previous game against Laois.

Joe Fortune’s side threatened to open up a big lead early on after moving 1-3 to 0-2 clear thanks to senior ace Colm Cronin’s solo goal. But four Westmeath points in a row levelled it up and set the tone for a tit-for-tat encounter.

They were level again at half-time after three Westmeath points in a row, 1-6 to 0-9. Boland came off the bench at half-time and put some life into a dull contest with a 42nd minute goal.

And Dublin moved four clear moments later when free-taker Paul Winters turned over his fourth point of the evening.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

But true to their battling spirit, Westmeath were back level in the 54th minute after four placed ball conversions from O’Brien.

They will kick themselves for not finishing the tie off when the same player was awarded the penalty after he was hauled down. Dublin somehow lived to fight another day with Boland punching the air in delight when his arrowed shot flew over a minute from full-time.

Scorers for Dublin: Paul Winters 0-4 (3f), Cian Boland 1-1, Colm Cronin 1-0, Caolan Conway 0-2, Aodhan Clabby 0-1.Scorers for Westmeath: Niall O’Brien 0-8 (0-7f), Robbie Greville, Aonghus Clarke 0-2 each, David Fennell 0-1.

Westmeath's Joey Boyle is consoled by Dublin's Colm Cronin. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

DUBLIN
1. Conor Dooley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
4. Sean McClelland (Lucan Sarsfields)
3. Cian O’Callaghan (Cuala)
2. Matthew McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields)
5. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille)
6. Robert Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes)
7. Chris Crummy (Lucan Sarsfields)
18. Donal Gormley (Ballinteer St John’s)
9 Conor Robinson (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
12. Colm Cronin (Cuala)
11. Kevin O’Flynn (St Sylvester’s)
10. Paul Winters (St Brigid’s)
13. Caolan Conway (Kilmacud Crokes)
14. Aodhan Clabby (Ballinteer St John’s)
15. Oisin O Rorke (Kilmacud Crokes)

Subs
19. Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh) for Conway (h/t)
20. Andrew Jamieson Murphy (Na Fianna) for O’Donnell (44)
17. Tom Devlin (St Jude’s) for Gormley (47)
21. Fiontan McGibb (Setanta) for O’Flynn (52)
23. Cian MacGabhann (Kilmacud Crokes) for

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

WESTMEATH
1. Kieran Glennon (Castletown Geoghegan)
17. Paul Fennell (Castletown Geoghegan)
3. Tommy Doyle (Lough Lene Gaels)
4. Liam Varley (Castletown Geoghegan)
5. Gary Greville (Raharney)
6. Tommy Gallagher (Castlepollard)
7. Mick Heeney (Castletown Geoghegan)
8. David Fennell (Castletown Geoghegan)
9. David Lynch (Castletown Geoghegan)
10. Robbie Greville (Raharney)
11. Aonghus Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan)
15. David Higgins (Raharney)
13. Niall O’Brien (Castletown Geoghegan)
14. Cathal Scally (Clonkill)
12. Joey Boyle (Castlepollard)

Subs
18. Neal Kirby (Castletown Geoghegan) for Scally (52)
30 (jersey replacement) Scally for D Fennell (55)

Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth).

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