Extra-time goals from Eoghan Bagnall and Aaron Browne swung a pulsating Leinster MFC final in Kildare’s favour at Pairc Tailteann today.

The Lilywhites were crowned provincial champions at this level for the ninth time thanks to a 2-21 to 1-19 extra-time final success over Dublin.

Extra-time was required to separate the sides after Fionn Murray dramatically equalised for the team in sky blue with the last kick of normal time.

The regulation 60 minutes finished with the scoreboard reading Kildare 0-14, Dublin 1-11.

The Jim Lehane managed Dublin led by the narrowest of margins (0-8 to 0-7) at the midway point before Luke Swan pounced for the only goal of normal time shortly after the resumption to give his team a four point cushion.

Alex Rogers subsequently extended their advantage to five and the signs looked ominous for the Lilywhites at that stage.

Kildare's Kevin Eustace and Aaron Browne lift the Fr Larry Murphy Cup. ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon.

To their credit, they refused to panic and a string of points from Eoghan Bagnall (2 frees), Kevin Eustace, Mikey Delahunty and Aaron Browne got them back on level terms.

The teams traded points before Browne edged Kildare ahead in the 51st minute and that looked as though it was going to be the decisive score before left half-forward Murray came to Dublin’s rescue right at the death.

The first period of extra-time was only a minute old when Bagnall found the back of the Dublin net and Browne netted a second to parachute Colin Ward’s charges into a 2-17 to 1-14 lead by the half-time interval.

There was no way back for Dublin at that point and five points separated the sides at the final whistle.

Kildare - C Burke; M Maguire, C Boran, T Gill; PJ Cullen, O O'Rourke, J Quinn; S Flynn (0-3), K Eustace (0-1); A Browne (1-7), C O'Brien, E Bagnall (1-7, 0-6f); O Milmoe, A Conneely, A Boyle. Subs: D Woulfe for O Milmoe, M Delahunty (0-1) for C O'Brien, R Comeau for O O'Rourke, E Meehan (0-2) for D Woulfe, M Whelan for A Boyle, M Spillane for A Conneely, J Kavanagh for M Maguire (BC), L Doran for K Eustace.  

Dublin - H O'Sullivan; C Tyrrell, B Millist, C Archer; K Conroy, S Forker, J Lundy; D O'Dowd, L Murphy Guinane; R O'Dwyer (0-4, 2f, 1pen), L Swan (1-1), F Murray (0-10, 8f, 1'45); A Rogers (0-1), R Keogh (0-1), S Kinsella. Subs: A Watson for B Millist, B Harding for S Forker, R Bolger for S Kinsella, D Fagan for R O'Dwyer, T Brennan for R Keogh, H Colclough for J Lundy, L Curran (0-2) for A Rogers, M Nealon for C Archer, O'Dwyer for T Brennan, R Keogh for L Murphy Guinane.

Referee - D Hickey.

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