Wexford and Galway will contest the 2018 Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship final on Wednesday, 4^th July after semi-final victories over Dublin and Kilkenny, respectively.

Wexford 3-15, Dublin 3-12

Substitute Mike Dwyer scored two second half goals as Wexford defeated Dublin at Parnell Park. His goals helped turn a three point half time deficit into a three point victory for the Slaney-siders.

Colin Currie scored the only goal of the first half in the 14^th minute and Dublin built up a six point advantage at one stage, before free-taker Seamus Casey brought Wexford back in touch.

Wexford got the perfect start to the second half with a Joe O’Connor goal ten seconds after the resumption.

There was nothing between the teams for the next 15 minutes, before Wexford edged ahead with Dwyer’s first goal.

Currie soon fired home a second goal for Dublin, but Wexford established a three point advantage and then Dwyer put them in command with his second goal approaching injury-time.

Dublin’s third goal from Eoghan Dunne came too late as they didn’t have time to search for an equaliser and Wexford marched on by 3-15 to 3-12.

Scorers for Wexford: Seamus Casey 0-8 (7f), Mikie Dwyer 2-0, Joe O’Connor 1-3, Stephen O Gorman 0-2, Aaron Maddock 0-1, Rory Higgins 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Colin Currie 2-6 (3f), Donal Burke 0-3, Eoghan Dunne 0-1, Cian O Sullivan 0-1, Eoghan Conroy 0-1, Daire Gray 0-1 (1 ’65).

WEXFORD: James Heneberry, Sean Barden, Darren Byrne, Conor Firman; Aaron Maddock, Damien Reck, Ian Carthy; Shane Reck, Rowan White; Joe O’Connor, Rory O’Connor, Liam Stafford; Stephen O Gorman, Oisin Foley, Seamus Casey. Subs: Garry Molloy for Conor Firman (20), Rory Higgins for Sean Barden (28), Mikie Dwyer for Oisin Foley (43).

DUBLIN: Dara Perry; Shane Howard, Paddy Smyth, Donnacha Ryan; Eoghan Conroy, Conor Burke, Daire Gray; Fergal Whitely, Conor Ryan; Ciaran Dowling, Paul Crummey, Ronan Hayes; Cian O’ Sullivan, Donal Burke, Colin Currie. Subs: Cian Costello for Cian O Sullivan (36), Lee Gannon for Ciaran Dowling (47), Cian Hendricken for Shane Howard (51), Sean Currie for Fergal Whitely (53).

Galway 3-13, Kilkenny 1-17

A dominant third quarter inspired Galway to a first ever Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship final, despite a determined late surge from Kilkenny which reduced a nine point gap to just two at the finish..

After a lot of wides in the opening stages, Galway made their first crucial breakthrough after 18 minutes. A wonderful rob from Jack Canning set Niland up with a two on one situation and with the defender backing off, the Clarinbridge man backed himself and picked out the bottom corner of the net.

Kilkenny had their goal chances too, but Eanna Murphy did well to deny Adrian Mullen from close range while Bill Sheehan also failed to hit the target with a kicked effort in the closing stages of the half.

Still, 1-8 to 0-9 adrift with a strong wind to come seemed like a healthy position for Kilkenny – but that was until a Kevin Cooney point and a Seán Bleahane goal in the first three minutes after half time trebled the lead.

Though their wide count continued to mount, Galway kept Kilkenny at arm’s length, Cianan Fahy and Kevin Cooney adding further points, while great run and finish from Fahy made it 3-12 to 0-12 with a little over ten minutes to go.

Gradually DJ Carey’s side worked their way back into the game however and four points in a row set up a tense finish.

Kevin Cooney added a point to settle Galway’s nerves and the longer the game went without a Kilkenny goal, the more the win slipped away from the Leinster county. Bill Sheehan and Donnelly had shots blocked before a ground pull from Donnelly in the fifth minute of added time completed the scoring.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 1-6 (0-3f), Cianan Fahy 1-2, Kevin Cooney 0-4, Seán Bleahane 1-0, Brian Concannon 0-1.

Scorers for Kilkenny: James Bergin 0-7 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65), John Donnelly 1-2, Richie Leahy 0-3, Adrian Mullen & Conor Hennessy 0-2 each, Colum Prendiville 0-1.

GALWAY: Eanna Murphy; Ian O’Shea, Jack Fitzpatrick, Shane Bannon; Fintan Burke, Mark Hughes, Jack Grealish; Sean Loftus, Tomás Monaghan; Seán Blehane, Kevin Cooney, Cianan Fahy; Jack Canning, Brian Concannon, Evan Niland. Subs: Cian Salmon for Canning (HT), Conor Caulfield for Grealish (53), Patrick Foley for Bleahane (60), Ronan Murphy for Niland (60+4), Andrew Greaney for Burke (60+5)

KILKENNY: Liam Dunphy; Ryan Bergin, Tommy Walsh, Michael Cody; Tom Kenny, Martin Keoghan, Shane Murphy; Edmond Delaney, Richie Leahy; Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Colum Prendiville; Bill Sheehan, Conor Hennessy, James Bergin. Subs: Michael Carey for R Bergin (HT), Matt Kenny for Delaney (49) Sean Carey for James Bergin (54)

Referee: Alfie Devine (Westmeath)