End of road for U21 footballers

Sun, 19th April 2015

TIPPERARY 0-14 DUBLIN 0-12

Two points in injury-time saw Tipperary finished strongly to edge out Dublin in Saturday evening's EirGrid All-Ireland U21FC semi-final at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

It will be a first All-Ireland U21FC final appearance for the Premier County, when they will face Tyrone, after they put in a storming second half to come from 0-3 to 0-8 in arrears early in the second half to snatch victory after a pulsating encounter.

The first half was a fairly tactical battle as Dublin improved as the half progressed to lead 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

Conor McHugh was Dublin's best marksman, slotting three fine points from play as well as converting a free. The Na Fianna man was ably assisted up front by the hard-working Colm Basquel, who clipped a point, while Cormac Costello also converted a massive 50 metre free.

However, unlike in the Leinster campaign Dublin failed to create goal-scoring chances and the Tipp team would have been content entering the interval four points in arrears considering the growing strength of the wind.

A Shane Carthy point, following good work by McHugh, extended Dublin's lead to five points, 0-8 to 0-3 but Tipperary were not long in getting motoring and cutting into the deficit.

A free from Josh Keane and one from play from the influential Colin O'Riordan started the Tipp rally which was added to when the powerful Steven O'Brien and Kevin O'Halloran scored, indeed David Byrne parried O'Halloran's goal-bound effort over the crossbar.

However, Dublin dug in and broke the Tipp scoring sequence with a Costello point and from there to the finish it was nip and tuck.

Tipp got on top around midfield in the closing minutes while the wind factor gave them greater confidence with long-range kicking.

The Premier County looked to have it won as the game ticked into added time before Daithí O Cathmhaoil fired over a brilliant equaliser but with extra-time looking on Tipp struck with two quick points in the second minute of injury-time to set up their historic debut final appearance.

Footnote: Before the game there was a minute's silence observed in honour of the late Dave Billings, with the UCD students from both camps together at midfield.

SCORERS - Tipperary: K O’Halloran 0-4 (0-3f), J Keane 0-3 (0-3f), S O’Brien, C O’Riordan 0-2 each, R Mulcahy, J Lonergan, L Casey 0-1 each. Dublin: C McHugh (0-1f), C Costello (0-3f) 0-4 each, S Carthy 0-2, D Campbell, C Basquel 0-1.

DUBLIN: L Molloy; D Byrne, M Cahalane, R McGowan; A Farrell, E Lowndes, C Mulally; S Cunningham, S Carthy; N Scully, A Foley, C McHugh, C Costello, E Murchan, C Basquel. Subs: Shane Cunningham for Stephen Cunningham (24, inj), S Clayton for Foley (45), E Fletcher for Cahalane (49), A Byrne for Basquel (49), D O Cathmhaoil for Scully (52),

TIPPERARY: E Comerford; K Fahey, J Feehan, C O’Shaughnessy; R Mulcahy, L Boland, B Maher; S O’Brien, C O’Riordan; J Lonergan, I Fahey, L Casey; K O’Halloran, J Keane, P Maher. Subs: D McEnroe for P Maher (59).

REF: J Henry (Mayo).