Dublin avoided becoming Westmeath's latest shock defeat as they ran out six-point winners at Parnell Park this evening.
It finished 2-17 to 1-14 in the capital and Joe Fortune's side will now gear up for an U21 Leinster final clash with Offaly or Carlow on July 6.
Chris Bennett racked up an impressive 2-6 and insisted that the win was important to gather momentum heading into the final.
"It was a huge encounter," said Bennett, "We knew from two weeks ago that Westmeath were going to stick it up to us. Underage, they've been magnificent over the last couple of years. Even two years ago playing them down in Mullingar they almost caught us on the hoop as well.
"We knew that there couldn't be any complacency in our team. In the first half we thought we might have had it easy but half time there was only a point in it and even in the second half, in the early minutes they went a point up.
"We knew we needed a goal to finish the game off and we did so successfully.
"The first thing that Joe said to me when we were alone was 'the next time you have it, go for goal'. He knew I had the beating of my man so I trusted my legs and him and thank God I got two goals in the end.
"[The win] is huge but we can't be complacent. People think Offaly and Carlow aren't the stronger teams in Leinster but we played them about two months ago and they beat us by four points with our full team so we expect a huge encounter."
Bennett said that the game was good for him personally, not only for the tally, but to restore some lost confidence.
"It was important for me personally because a two weeks ago down in Wexford Park I had a nightmare and got taken off in the second half with about 20 minutes to go. The lads just told me to trust myself and use myself pace. Luckily enough it fell my way."
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