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AS IT HAPPENED

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

We went minute-by-minute as the champions of Connacht took on the Rebels for the right to take part in the All-Ireland under 21 final.

HELLO AND A very (very very very…) good afternoon to you gaelic football fans.

We’re set up and ready to bring you live updates from today’s All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Roscommon in Portlaoise.

As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to sean@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of Cork v Roscommon in the Under 21 All-Ireland football championship semi-final.

You’ve still got over 20 minutes to play with before throw-in in Portlaoise, so I’d recommend you get your face stuck into an ice-cream or a cool frothy drink.

We’re still waiting on confirmation of the Roscommon starting line-up, but here’s how Cork have set their stall out:

CORK: 1. Micheál Martin (Nemo Rangers); 2. Jamie Davis (Douglas), 3. Conor Dorman (Bishopstown – Captain), 4. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers); 5. Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCárthaigh), 6. Seán White (Clonakilty), 7. Kevin Crowley (Millstreet); 8. Kevin Fulignati (Nemo Rangers), 9. Ian Maguire (St. Finbarr’s); 10. Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), 11. Mark Sugrue (Bandon), 12. Sean Kiely (Ballincollig); 13. Dan MacEoin (Ilen Rovers), 14. John Corkery ( Aghabullogue),15. Alan Cadogan (Douglas).

Subs: 16. James McDonnell (St. Finbarr’s), 17. Sam Ryan (St. Finbarr’s), 18. Kieran Histon (Cobh), 19. TJ Brosnan (Newmarket), 20. Kevin Kavanagh (Carrigaline), 21. Darragh Murphy (Valley Rovers), 22. Killian McIntyre (Carrigaline), 23. David Harrington (Adrigole), 24. Cian O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers).

both sides are on the field now, here’s how Cork first out before Roscommon’s turn to take their team photo.

Here’s the Roscommon starting line-up with two changes from the team who defeated Leitrim in the Connacht decider. Niall McInerney comes into the half backs for Fintan Kelly while Ultan Harney starts in midfield instead of Killoran.

There is also a minor reshuffle in the forward line with Mark Nally coming into the full forward slot.

Roscommon: Colm Lavin; David Murray, Seán Mullooly, Cathal Kenny; Niall McInerney, John McManus, Ronan Daly; Ultan Harney, Thomas Corcoran; Ciaran Kilcline, Mark Healy, Enda Smith; Diarmuid Murtagh, Mark Nally, Donie Smith.

THROW-IN:

We’re underway in bright sunshine and Donie Smith gets Roscommon off the mark with a fine score coming in onto his left foot.

Cork 0 – 00 Roscommon 0 -01

4 mins: Cork 0 – 02 Roscommon 0 – 01

They’re level. Sean Kiely driving Cork’s opening score between the sticks from around 40 yards.

And Cork follow that up with a fine effort from Dan McEoin that eventually raises a white flag after initially being called a wide.

5mins: Cork 0 – 03 Roscommon 0 – 02

Thomas Corcoran finds his range with a free, but the Connacht champions are unable to frustrate the Rebels for long, Sugrue converting a straightforward free after the game flowed to the other end.

8 mins: Cork 0 – 03 Roscommon 0 – 03

Excellent play from Diarmuid Murtagh, standing up his marker, before powering into space and curling over a beaut from play.

10 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 04

Lovely play from Cadogan creates space for McEoin on the overlap down the left. The left foot curling shot looks to be touch and go in regards to the target, but the white flag is up again.

Roscommon respond again and Enda Smith lands an absolute monster of a point from the left wing.

12 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 05

Big Chance! for Roscommon as Donie Smith spins his man and advances on goal. His powerful shot is well saved by Micheal Martin, but the corner forward is allowed to come back and take the handy free to give Roscommon a lead for the second time in the game.

15 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 07

Roscommon hitting a rhythm now, finding space in and around the Cork back-line and Enda Smith again shows his power to manufacture a curling shot over the bar.

Roscommon win the following kick out and the chance comes for Ciaran Kilcline and he returns it with interest.

17 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 08

Sensational stuff from Roscommon, Kilcline again heavily involved, winning breaking ball and feeding midfielder Ultan Hearney who rifles Roscommon into a four-point lead.

19 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 09

Cork have no answer for the waves of blue and yellow attacks coming their way. Ronan Daly is the latest to add his name to the score-sheet.

The only hint of a slow-down in the momentum is a missed Murtagh free, but in open play this is fantastic football from the Connacht champions.

22 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 10

AND ANOTHER ONE! Murtagh makes amends for his wildly struck free and takes Roscommon into double figures with a lovely score off his left boot. By my count, all but one of Roscommon’s scores have come from play.

23 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 10

Ah, it’s all so easy for Roscommon now Even though Murtagh fires in another long-range wide the move was characterised by corner forward Donie Smith working back to his own 45 and helping to win possession back.

27 mins: Cork 0 – 04 Roscommon 0 – 10

The wides are just beginning to mount a little for Roscommon, but Cork are being afforded no opportunities in attack. Their first venture into the opposition third in quite some time ends in a wide after Kevin Kavanagh’s attempted hand pass flies over the head of McEoin and out.

30 mins: Cork 0 – 05 Roscommon 0 – 10

With some more accurate free-taking Roscommon really could be out of sight by now. Donie Smith swings a 45 wide after Murtagh’s close-range attempt at a point is blocked down and knocked out.

Cork finally end their scoring drought at the other end, McEoin knocking over a straightforward free.

Half-time: Cork 0 – 05 Roscommon 0 – 11

Cork’s first score for 20 minutes only served to refocus the Roscommon attack. Murtagh firing over his third point of the day to restore a six-point cushion for his side going into the break.

We’re under way in the second half and it’s the best possible start for Cork. Ian Maguire took a brilliant line directly though a gap and he in turn fed McEoin to get the Rebels rolling.

GOAL! 32: Cork 1 – 06 Roscommon 0 – 12

Mark Sugrue hits the net to give Cork hope of a comeback, a brilliant low driven finish with his left boot after Murtagh had cancelled out McEoin’s opener to the second half.

Game on.

35: Cork 1 – 07 Roscommon 0 – 13

Cork start the second half even better than they started the first. Alan Cadogan hits their third score of the second half.

At the other end, Murtagh wins a free and duly converts.

40 mins: Cork 1 – 07 Roscommon 0 – 15

Roscommon are doing well here. Rebels desperately trying to turn the tide, but crucially the men from the north west are keeping the scoreboard ticking over with three frees in a row now coming from Murtagh.

43:  Cork 1 – 09 Roscommon 0 – 16

Make that four in a row. The latest coming after fine play from Donie Smith to manufacture an opening on the left before curling his shot wide.

Alan Cadogan has found more joy in this half, the corner forward has scored his second of the day and Cork follow up with another score from a McEoin free.

Yellow card for Brian O’Driscoll! The young man with the famous name adjudged harshly enough to have tripped Ronan Daly.

John Corcoran drills in the free.

47 mins:  Cork 1 – 09 Roscommon 0 – 17

GOAL!

48 mins: Cork 2 – 09 Roscommon 0 – 17

A stunning goal from Alan Cadogan, driving in from the left and onto his right foot which delivers a piledriver of a shot to the roof of the net.

Just two points between the sides now.

50: Cork 2 – 09 Roscommon 0 – 18

Ah, lovely composed play from Roscommon, not panicking when their attack breaks down, but instead starting again and creating the opening for Corcoran to fist over.

GOAL! 52: Cork 2 – 10 Roscommon 1 – 18

Ultan Hearney powers through the middle and fires in an absolute howitzer that Micheal Martin gets a hand to, but can’t keep out. The ball rattles off the inside net support and bounces back out, but the green flag is quickly up.

Cork go back up the other end and convert a free.

55: Cork 2 – 11 Roscommon 1 – 18

Mark Sugrue on the score-sheet again, pointing to ensure Cork won’t go down without a battle in the closing stages here.

59: Cork 2 – 12 Roscommon 1 – 18

Sugrue with another one and there’s just a goal between the sides.

GOAL! 60 mins: Cork 3 – 12 Roscommon 1 – 18

The clock’s gone red as McEoin lines up a close-range free and he blasts an unstoppable shot into the top corner. They’re level!

62 mins: Cork 3 – 12 Roscommon 1 – 19

Roscommon regroup and attack up the right flank where they win a free. Murtagh takes it, and his big left foot curls it beautifully onto the target to raise the white flag.

What a dramatic finish.

 

FULL-TIME: Cork 3 – 12 Roscommon 1 – 19

It’s all over. Roscommon take their place in the All-Ireland final.

An amazing game of football.

‘If there’s one man to keep us grounded, it’s Davy’ – Conlon

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