1. Cork’s attacking prowess proves key
Alan Cadogan was not meant to start for the Cork U21′s last night, drafted in late on as a replacement for the injured Cathal Vaughan. Hurling commitments with the county senior side and the UCC Fitzgibbon Cup team have pre-occupied him of late but he wasted little time in making an impact in attack.
The Douglas player notched 0-3 early on and finished up with 0-5 to his name. In the opposite corner Dan McEoin struck 0-5, including just a single point from a free, while out in the half-forward line Mark Sugrue and Sean Kiely weighed in with 0-3 apiece. It was an impressive attacking showing by Cork and their prowess was key.
With Vaughan, who shone for the senior side last month with a late cameo against Kildare, to come back into the fray, Sean Hayes team look like they pack a serious punch up front.
2. Kerry make early exit again
It was another dispiriting night at the U21 grade for Kerry as their wait for a Munster title drags on. They haven’t escaped from the province since 2008 and after final losses in 2010, 2011 and 2012, they lost out at the opening hurdle for the second successive year last night.
A 0-14 to 2-7 loss last year was agonising but last night’s defeat by 0-18 to 2-8 was more clearcut. Goals were crucial in helping them forge ahead in the opening period yet they had little answer in the closing quarter as Cork overwhelmed them. The result is a damaging blow for the county.
3. Tipperary learn little but show their strength
Tipperary lost key defender John Meagher before throw-in in Dungarvan last night and saw ace attacker Michael Quinlivan depart through injury with 21 minutes on the clock. Those setbacks mattered little as their flow was not interrupted and they took Waterford apart in their Munster quarter-final.
A 0-19 to 2-3 win will have taught Tipperary little as they did not receive a serious test. But they showcased their strength and affirmed they will make a decent stab at following up 2011′s minor glory with a 2014 U21 triumph. A trip to West Clare awaits next Wednesday night.
4. Cavan continue to impress
It’s hard to believe that before 2010, Cavan had not won a game in the Ulster U21 championship since 2007. Since then they have been the dominant force, reaching the 2010 decider against Donegal before winning three consecutive titles. Their extraordinary level of success means their hoard of U21 silverware in the last three years is greater than what they achieved in the previous 47 years.
Last night they provided evidence that they show no signs of slowing up. They travelled to Celtic Park and disposed of Derry for a tenth successive win. The current team have a clutch of brilliant players in Killian Clarke, Dara McVitty, Michael Argue, Joe Dillon and Paul Graham. They continue to impress.
5. Roscommon produce the result of the night
No doubt about the most eye-catching scoreline last night. Roscommon managing to defeat Mayo may have been a mild surprise but they have won two of the last three Connacht minor crowns and have consistently challenged in the U21 grade of late.
Instead it was the scale of their victory that really prompted surprise, rifling four goals past Mayo and crushing them by 11 points. Achieving a win of that scale away in Castlebar only embellished the feat. In Diarmuid Murtagh and Donie Smith, who shot a combined 3-6 last night, they have a pair of lethal forwards.
6. Reality check for Mayo
The flipside last night was the disappointment felt by Mayo. The U21 grade has been a graveyard for them over the past four years but they was renewed hope last night. The feel-good factor from last September’s All-Ireland minor win contributed to that while great prospects like Adam Gallagher and Evan Regan were also in the ranks.
But despite the early fillip of a Regan goal they leaked three goals before break and Donie Smith put the final nail in their coffin by notching Roscommon’s fourth goal after the interval. This a campaign that Mayo fans would have hoped to have been more profitable.
7. Meath need Eamonn Wallace
Meath did the job at the second time of asking in Navan last night, kicking for the line in style as they strung together five unanswered points to see off Louth. Bryan McMahon and Seamus Mattimoe hit 0-11 between them on the night as Meath booked a semi-final spot against Offaly.
That game next Wednesday night will be a stern test in Parnell Park considering how impressive Offaly were last week against Kildare. Seeing Eamonn Wallace bowing out early on through injury last night wasn’t good news for Meath. They coped in his absence last night but need the Ratoath star back in action for the challenges ahead.