County senior Diarmuid O'Dulaing led the way as Dublin, a month after leaking four goals to Galway, turned the tables in remarkable fashion to secure a Leinster U-20 HC final clash with Offaly.
On an evening of high drama, Dublin's 4-17 to 0-20 defeat of Galway and holders Offaly's 2-17 to 2-16 win over Kilkenny secured a first final between the counties at the grade since 2016.
Dublin's dozen-point win was the bigger surprise as when Shane O'Brien's side met Galway at the group stage just over four weeks ago, Galway won by 4-14 to 0-10.
Dublin also lost to Offaly in the round robin stage though both sides will fancy their chances when they meet again next Wednesday evening with provincial glory and an All-Ireland final place at stake.
Galway, who hadn't played since that win over Dublin, ran into a Dublin side who had beaten Westmeath and Wexford in the meantime and the young Tribesmen looked stunned by the speed and ferocity of the Sky Blues.
O Dulaing, who finished with 1-06 and claimed the Man of the Match award, sniped a goal after just 14 seconds.
David Purcell then got the first of his two goals in Portlaoise in the seventh minute, latching onto a ball up the right wing by Conor Dolan and beating both Conor Lawless and Rory Burke before slamming the ball in the net.
That left Dublin 2-01 to 0-01 ahead and they continued to go for goals with Neil Hogan and O Dulaing both drawing saves from goalkeeper Darragh Walsh.
Galway, with Joe Canning as part of Fergal Healy's management team, eventually got to the pace of the game in the second quarter and reeled off points from Matthew Tarpey, free-taker Conor Dolphin and Cullen Killeen.
But Dublin closed out the half with points from Hogan, Fionn Murphy and the excellent Conal O Riain to lead by 2-10 to 0-10 at half-time.
Dublin's midfield of O Riain and Jack Behan provided a strong platform and while Galway improved after the break, getting the margin down to three points after 55 minutes, 2-15 to 0-18, that was as close as it got.
Conor Newton added craft and speed when he came on for Dublin and struck 1-01, his 59th minute goal coming after collecting the ball 30 metres out and surging clear.
Purcell, who'd earlier curled over a beautiful point from a line ball, added Dublin's fourth goal in stoppage time when he advanced on goal, shortened the hurl and batted beyond goalkeeper Walsh.
It was tighter in Tullamore where Offaly edged out Kilkenny by a solitary point thanks in part to 2-03 from Shane Rigney and 10 points from senior star Adam Screeney.
Rigney's 23rd minute goal helped Offaly to open up a 1-09 to 0-11 lead at half-time but Kilkenny enjoyed their best form either side of half-time and eventually took the lead.
With eight unanswered points between the 28th and 38th minutes, the last of which came for Kilkenny senior Gearoid Dunne, the Cats led 0-15 to 1-09.
The final 20 minutes or so belonged to Offaly as Rigney buried his second goal in the 41st minute and Screeney followed up with four points from frees.
Offaly led by five approaching the hour mark but needed late points from Screeney and Alex Kavanagh as Kilkenny clawed back 58th and 61st minute goals from Niall Shortall and Shine to cut the deficit to just one.
Time ran out on Kilkenny who had eight different scorers on the evening including Shine who finished with 1-10.
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