Dublin roared into the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final in a 11-goal thriller in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
Four goals from Cormac Costello helped Dublin on their way in an extra-ordinary semi-final.
Ciaran Kilkenny and Paul Winters also hit the net for the Dubs who led by 4-12 to 0-07 at the break.
Waterford put up a brave fight in the second half, scoring 5-06 in the 30 minutes but the Dublin score was never in sight for Liam O’Connor’s men. Dublin will meet Galway in the final.
Kilkenny opened the scoring in the early stages as his long solo run end with a scuffed shot looping into the middle of the net.
Costello got the first of his goals after fine work by Kilkenny and then Winters tapped home a third seven minutes before the break.
Costello deflected it home for a 17-point lead at half-time for Dublin and a place in the final was already secured.
The dual star Costello was on target again five minutes into the second period as Colm Cronin’s effort for point rebounded off the post for the forward to tap home into an unguarded net, completing his hat-trick.
Waterford finally hit the net in the 42nd minute as substitute Cormac Heffernan ran past goalkeeper Cormac Ryan and fired home.
Costello cancelled out that strike as he superbly shrugged off two defenders and powered it home just three minutes later.
Goals from Adam O’Sullivan, Gavin O’Brien and a penalty from Stephen Bennett edged Waterford closer to the Dubs at 6-15 to 4-13.
Points from Kilkenny and Brian McCarthy removed any doubt about the outcome but there was still time for Jake Dillon to deflect home a fifth Deise goal and restore pride which was very much dented at the half-way stage in Croke Park.
Dublin will go on to meet Galway in the final with positives and negative for manager Shay Boland to take into the decider.
