Offaly edge out Kildare

Offaly held off a spirited fightback from 14-man Kildare to book their place in the Leinster U21 FC semi-final against Louth.

At half-time, Offaly led 0-5 to 0-4, with Anton Sullivan kicking four of his side’s points

Kildare trailed by 0-7 to 0-5 when Mickey Kelly was dismissed after 39 minutes but they continued to battle and had chances to force the game to extra-time but three late shots went wide.

Scorers for Offaly: A Sullivan 0-4 (0-1f); B Allen 0-2f, S Hannon 0-1; J McPadden 0-1.

Kildare scorers: K Feeley 0-3; S Hurley 0-1f; F Dowling 0-1f; P Fogarty 0-1; L McGovern 0-1.

OFFALY: G Shiels; D Hanlon, E Rigney, J Kavanagh; S Hannon, J Ledwith, J McPadden; M Brazil, D Kelly; D Hogan, A Sullivan, G Guilfoyle; T Spain, B Allen, M Young.

Subs: S Cullen for Guilfoyle (28mins), C Donoghue for Hanlon (42mins), G Guilfoyle for M Young (49mins), A McDonagh for TSpain (55mins)

KILDARE: M Donnellan; M Kelly, M Konstantin, B Egan; E Powderly, E Doyle, C O’Shea; W Burke, K Feeley; C Reynolds, T Moolick, S Hurley; D Mulhall, P Fogarty, L McGovern.

Subs: C Bolton for D Mulhall (29mins), F Dowling for T Moolick (42mins), D Hylan for B Egan (49mins), D Flynn for C Reynolds (55mins)

Referee: D Gough (Meath).