Dublin 0-14 Kildare 0-12
Dublin were forced to come from behind to see off Kildare's dogged challenge in today's Leinster SFC semi-final clash at Croke Park.
The Blues' 37-match unbeaten run over 12 years in the province was put under threat by the Lilywhites, who led by four points after 42 minutes, but Dessie Farrell's side eventually pushed on as Kildare tired late on and the Dubs progress to the provincial decider against Louth in a fortnight's time.
However Farrell will have deep concerns over his side's display as Kildare showed massive improvement from last year's 5-17 to 1-15 loss to their rivals.
If the big news beforehand was the inclusion of 41-year-old Stephen Cluxton in goal for the Dubs for the first time since the 2020 All-Ireland final, the headline writ large at half-time was that the men from the capital were behind at the break for the first time in the province since the 2013 defeat of Meath, when they trailed by five.
Kildare led by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break as Glenn Ryan's deployment of the blanket defence worked really effectively to shut down Con O'Callaghan and Ciaran Kilkenny, allied with a listlessness to Dublin's attacking game that was world's apart from their evisceration of Laois the previous Sunday.
It could have been worse for the hot favourites but for Cluxton's early save from Jack Robinson to prevent a goal.
Jack McCaffrey and Cormac Costello came on at the start of the second half but initially had little impact as Kildare continued in the same vein and superbly taken points by the outstanding Paddy Woodgate and Ben McCormack pushed them four points clear.
Dublin had to respond and did so in calm fashion, gradually reeling in their opponents before their attacking move of the game resulted in a 64th minute free by Costello that saw them hit the front for the first time.
Not surprisingly, McCaffrey was at the heart of the revival, first scoring the point that brought Dublin level before winning the free that Costello converted.
Paul Cribbin was marginally off target with a point attempt that would have restored parity in the second of five injury time minutes and, at the other end, Lorcan O'Dell's effort was tipped over by Lilywhites keeper Mark Donnellan for the insurance score.
Pride restored to an extent for Kildare after a difficult start to 2023, but they will leave Croke Park with regret as this upset was on.
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