After steamrolling past Wexford and Longford, it took a more persistent Dublin effort in Mullingar on Saturday to gain a place in the Leinster under-21 football final.
It was Colin Moran who inspired Dublin's charge when they most needed it. As his side drifted out of the game, Moran worked tirelessly and should have been rewarded with a goal.
Wayne McCarthy was another to impress, shooting four frees. He ensured that Dublin always maintained their narrow advantage after pushing ahead in the first quarter hour.
Conor Murphy also worked well at midfield and in the rare moments when their goal-line was threatened, Manus Breathnach proved reliable. Alan Brogan popped up less frequently than he would have liked, but when he did he chipped over two fine points.
Kildare were gelling a lot less effectively as a team. Colm O'Reilly was the only true visionary among their forwards and after shooting the opening free on seven minutes, he alone kept up their scoring interest in the first half. At the break, they trailed Dublin 0-7 to 0-5.
Still, Ronan Sweeney made sure that Kildare's challenge never wilted. O'Reilly clawed them back to one point at a stage when Dublin squandered two major goal chances - especially one from Moran - and hit four wides in succession. Once Brogan and James Gahan renewed Dublin's scoring, however, Kildare looked like a beaten team.
The clock ran out with an exchange of points between Sweeney and McCarthy. Dublin will face old rivals Meath next Saturday in the quest for their first Leinster title in 17 years.
Dublin: S Cluxton; G Norton, M Breathnach, N Cleere; A Holly, M Kennedy, P Casey; D McGee, C Murphy; A Brogan (0-2), C Moran, L Og O hEineachain (0-1); T Quinn (0-1), J Gahan (0-2), W McCarthy (0-4, all frees). Subs: P Lawless (0-1) for Quinn (44 mins), D Lally for Gahan (61 mins).
Kildare: P White; J Sharpe, P Mullarkey, M Dunne; B Dunne, M Wright, A Flood; R Sweeney (0-1), P Hurley; C O'Reilly (0-6, four frees), J O'Donoghue, D McCormack; B McGrogan, K Donnelly, T Rossiter. Subs: B Moyles for O'Donoghue (22 mins), M Browne for McGrogan (38 mins), D Cafferty for Hurley (39 mins), F Ryder for Donnelly (59 mins).
Referee: J Bannon (Longford).
