Leinster U21HC: Burke's brace helps sink Lake men
June 13, 2018
Donal Burke celebrates after scoring a goal for Dublin
Dublin 2-13
Westmeath 1-13
Dublin were made come from behind against Westmeath this evening in Mullingar to ensure their place in the semi-finals of the Leinster U21 hurling championship.
Ace attacker Donal Burke struck a goal in each half for the capital lads as they overturned a four-point deficit at the half to win out by three in the end and set-up a date with Wexford next Wednesday night.
Westmeath had enjoyed the dream start to this quarter-final, bagging a goal inside the first two minutes from Killian Doyle and his brother Ciaran struck over a sweet sideline cut moments later to ensure the hosts were off to a flier here.
The Dubs hit back via Burke's first major of the evening but the Doyle brothers, whom accounted for their team's entire 1-13 tally, continued to sail over points which ensured that Westmeath led at the interval on a 1-9 to 1-5 score-line.
However, within three minutes of the restart Burke had the sliotar in the home side's net again after a fine take from his full-forward station before fellow county senior Fergal Whitely squared the sides.
Killian Doyle nudged the Lake men back in front and Ciaran would do likewise with 11 minutes left on the clock but it was all Paul O'Brien's side from there, as they rattled off the next five points to seal a berth in to last four against the Slaneysiders.
Dublin - Dara Perry; Donnacha Ryan, Paddy Smyth, Shane Howard; Eoghan Conroy (0-1), Conor Burke, Daire Gray; Fergal Whitely (0-2), Lee Gannon; Ciaran Dowling (0-4), Eoghan Dunne, Ronan Hayes (0-2); Cian O'Sullivan, Donal Burke (2-3), Paul Crummey. Subs: Conor Ryan for Gannon, Colin Currie (0-1)for Dunne, Cillian Costello for O'Sullivan, Jack McVeigh for Howard, Aidan Mellett for Dowling.
Westmeath - Brian McHugh; Naoise McKenna, Kevin Regan, Sean Lancaster; Joe Rabbitte, Conor Kane, Darragh Reilly; Plunkett Maxwell, Conor McCrossan; Eoin Keyes, Killian Doyle (1-7), Ciaran Doyle (0-6); Jimmy Goonery, Niall Mitchell, Fiachra Heeney. Subs: Paddy Doody for Heeney, Eoghan Ahearn for Doody, John McCarthy for Keyes.
Ref - J Heffernan (Wexford).
