Back-to-back U-20 titles for Kildare after extra-time epic against Dublin

Kildare have retained their Leinster U-20 football title with a three-point over Dublin after extra-time at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Ryan Sinkey set the tone for the evening very early on with a booming score to get proceedings under way in the third minute of the game. The first of three excellent points executed by Sinkey in the opening half.

The Dublin response was strong as they settled well into the game and began to take control with Joe Quigley in the same form as Sinkey in front of the posts.

A roving run from Luke Ward gave Dublin their first real sight at goal midway through the first half. Ward made light work of the challenge from James Harris before bearing down on goal only to be denied by the feet of Barker in the Kildare goal.

Another beautiful exchange of scores between Quigley and Sinkey with the first-half display of both players giving the crowd plenty to enjoy.

The quality of scoring in the first 20 minutes was a joy to watch with both sides showing an incredible level of accuracy and skill from distance as they battled for position on the scoreboard.

Two huge scores from distance late in the half from Greg McEnEaney and Seamus Smith personified this quality as Dublin led by two at the break - 0-07 to 0-05.

Of the 12 first-half scores that the crowd were treated to, amazingly only one came from a free.

The battle continued between the sides after the restart.

The score of the game came from the ground with Ross Keogh slotting over a free from distance to keep the Dublin scoreboard ticking over.

Kildare to their credit stuck to their task admirably matching Dublin physically and more importantly on the scoreboard. Their purple patch arrived midway through the second period with a quartet of points swinging the