Dublin 1-21
Roscommon 3-6

DUBLIN’S FOOTBALL DOMINANCE continues after they claimed their third All-Ireland U21 title in five years with a brilliant display that saw off Roscommon in Tullamore this afternoon.

Six days after the county senior side retained their league crown, Dessie Farrell’s U21 side ran out nine-point winners over Roscommon in O’Connor Park.

Dublin’s magnificent first-half display saw them go in front by 0-14 to 0-1 at half-time and the match was ended as a contest when man-of-the-match Conor McHugh billowed the back of the net in the 35th minute after great work by Cormac Costello.

That score put Dublin ahead by 1-17 to 0-1 yet Roscommon managed to rally and remarkably raised three green flags in a six minute period from Diarmuid Murtagh (2) and Ciaran Kilcline.

However Nigel Dineen’s side had started far too slowly and simply couldn’t cope with their opponents in the first-half which resulted in their second final loss at this level in three years to Dublin.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin were sensational in the first-half with their full-forward line of McHugh, Costello and Paul Mannion ripping Roscommon apart. That trio struck 0-13 in the first-half and contributed 1-18 overall to Dublin’s cause.

The teams traded early points with Mannion and Ultan Harney on the mark but then Dublin took over. They were 0-7 to 0-1 clear after the first quarter and then enjoyed a 13-point advantage at the interval.

Nothing went right for Roscommon at the start and even when they were awarded a 14th minute penalty when David Byrne – who was shown a black card – fouled Donie Smith, the opportunity was spurned as Smith’s weakly struck effort was blocked by goalkeeper Lorcan Molloy.

Matters worsened for Roscommon after the break when they shipped 1-3 without reply but then they roused themselves to give their supporters something to cheer about.

Murtagh grabbed their first goal when he palmed the ball to the net, then Kilcline smashed a fierce drive past Molloy before Murtagh flicked home the third goal. They had cut the gap to eight points entering the final quarter when they trailed 1-18 to 3-4 but Dublin regained their composure and saw out the game from there.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Dublin: Conor McHugh 1-6, Paul Mannion 0-8 (0-5f, 0-1 ’45), Cormac Costello 0-4 (0-2f), Niall Scully, Jack McCaffrey, Shane Cunningham 0-1 each.Scorers for Roscommon: Diarmuid Murtagh 2-3 (0-2f), Ciaran Kilcline 1-0, Ultan Harney 0-2, Enda Smith 0-1.

ROSCOMMON
Colm Lavin
Cathal Kenny
Seán Mullooly
David Murray
Ronan Daly
John McManus
Conor Daly
Ultan Harney
Thomas Corcoran
Ciaran Kilcline
Mark Healy
Enda Smith
Diarmuid Murtagh
Mark Nally
Donie Smith

Subs
Michael Gunning for Nally (21)
Thomas Featherston for Kenny (26)
Niall McInerney for Conor Daly (28)
Adrian Gleeson for Gunning (half-time)
Sean Flynn for Ronan Daly (51)

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

All the highlights as Dublin cruise to the All-Ireland U21 football title

As it happened: Dublin v Roscommon, All-Ireland U21 football final