Kildare will meet Westmeath in the Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final after the Lake County men held off a spirited fightback by Offaly in the second half of their Leinster quarter-final in Cusack Park.
The home side started well in Mullingar, with marquee forward John Heslin slotting over a trio of scores as Westmeath raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead. With Offaly's main attacking threat, Niall McNamee, non-existent in the first half, it was left to the likes of Bernard Allen, Nigel Dunne and Graham Guilfoyle to notch the scores for the Faithful men.
Further scores from John Connellan, Denis Coroon and Heslin helped Westmeath saunter into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead at the interval over an Offaly side that offered very little going forward.
There was a remarkable change in the pace of the game following the restart as Offaly, backed by the wind, outscored their hosts by 0-9 to 0-4 in the second 35 minute period.
Scores from Nigel Dunne, who was excellent in his free-taking duties, and Peter Cunningham helped Offaly to reduce the gap to one point midway through the half, but Westmeath always managed to retain their lead, with the likes of Connellan and Heslin picking off scores.
James Dolan kicked a late score to make it 0-13 to 0-11, and although Cunningham cut the gap to one, Westmeath held on for a nervy win to set up a meeting with Kildare. It will be a familiar face in the opposite dugout for manager Cian O'Neill, as Clane native Tom Cribbin is in charge of Westmeath.
That tie is scheduled to take place on Sunday June 26 in Croke Park at 2pm, while Meath and Dublin will meet in the other semi-final at 4pm.
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