A general view of Cedral St Conleth's Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Leinster MFC, Round 3
Group 1
Dublin 3-11 Louth 1-16
Group 2
Meath 1-19 Longford 3-10
Kildare 0-22 Westmeath 1-13
Group 3
Carlow 2-10 Wexford 1-12
By Paul Keane
Mobarack Salami was the game breaker yet again for Dublin with a dramatic stoppage time two-pointer to secure victory - and an Electric Ireland Leinster MFC semi-final spot.
The St Maur's attacker netted for the third game running in Group 1 though it was his late two-point score at Parnell Park that proved decisive this time.
Louth thought they may have stolen a significant win to top Group 1 when they hit the net themselves in the 63rd minute through Andrew Reilly.
But Salami took centre stage again with that long-range score soon after, bringing his tally to 1-2 for the evening and ensuring Dublin finished the round robin with a 100 percent record.
Salami's goal, a soccer style finish on the deck, came in the ninth minute and separated the sides at half-time as Dublin led by 1-6 to 0-6.
All of Louth's first-half scores came from the classy Connell Kelly who kicked two two-pointers and he added a third after the restart.
Louth enjoyed a purple patch midway through the second-half with Tom Maguire and Tadhg Devenney scoring a series of points to nudge them 0-16 to 1-9 clear.
Dublin goals in the 56th and 63rd minutes from Finn McGinnis and Caoilinn O'Connell swung the momentum back their way again until the Reilly goal for Louth.
Leading by a point at that stage, 3-9 to 0-16, Louth surely thought they'd done enough to win but Salami struck at the death.
It all means Dublin top Group 1 and advance to the semi-finals while Louth are through to the May 1 quarter-finals and will face Westmeath or Carlow.
Kildare will join Dublin in the semi-finals after finishing at the head of Group 2.
The young Lilywhites built on a 0-12 to 1-5 half-time lead to beat Westmeath by six points.
Rory Thompson and Pauric Carty hit important first-half scores for Kildare though Will Scahill's 28th minute goal gave Westmeath a vital platform.
Kildare were too strong in the second-half with Cillian Long, Thompson, free-taker Carty, Hugh Martin and Sean Gleeson all registering points.
Westmeath have finished third in Group 2 and will advance to that preliminary quarter-final against Carlow.
Meath overcame the concession of three goals against Longford to lock down second position in Group 2 and a quarter-final against Offaly or Wicklow on May 1.
In Group 3, Carlow held on for a one-point win over neighbours Wexford in a thriller.
Ryan Wycherley grabbed the early Wexford goal but Carlow hit back with one themselves from Alan Fitzgerald.
Wexford led by two points at half-time, 1-7 to 1-5, but a second Carlow goal from Mark Buggy who later drilled a two-pointer, meant it went right to the wire.
Two late Conor Shortall points for Wexford left the minimum in it with time running out but Carlow held on.
Carlow's preliminary round clash with Westmeath will be on April 24, the same day Offaly face Wicklow.
