Deadly Dubs’ power surge

Dublin qualified for their third Leinster Under-21 final in four years with a comprehensive 13-point victory over Westmeath at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise last night.

Dublin made the ideal start when Mark Schutte’s goal after 23 seconds was followed by a second from Jack McCaffrey with barely three minutes played. However, Westmeath were level before the break but second-half goals by Paul Hudson and Ciarán Kilkenny, in a period where Dublin scored 2-9 without reply, killed off the challenge of the Lake County.

Schutte’s goal caught the Westmeath defence napping when he beat Eoin Carbery at his near post, and midfielder Emmet Ó Conghaile followed that with a point a minute later. From the ensuing Carbery kickout, the Dubs grabbed their second goal with a brilliant effort.