Masters footballers crowned All-Ireland champions

Dublin were crowned All-Ireland Masters (over-40) football champions when defeating Tyrone 1-14 to 1-12 in Saturday’s final at Fr Manning Gaels, Drumlish, Longford.

The Dubs could have won by more but spurned several second-half scoring opportunities but the deadball accuracy of Niall Crossan and a successfully converted ‘45’ from Johnny McNally deservedly saw Dublin to glory with the hard running of Ciaran McGuinness a key factor in the second-half.

Crossan tallied seven points in total and at the break Dublin led 1-8 to 0-5.

Cormac Smith got the Dublin goal in the early minutes following good work by Gary O’Connell.

Dublin were clearly the better side and points from Crossan (four), Derek Byrne and Mick O’Keeffe helped Val Andrews’ side into their six-point interval advantage.

Dublin (Masters panel): Danny O’Brien, Mick Coyne, Peadar Andrews, Felim Condron, David Spratt, Shane Ryan, Gary O’Connell, Ian Clarke, Ross Hainsworth, Cormac Smith, Johnny McNally, Peter Murtagh, Ciarán McGuinness, Derek Byrne, Niall Crossan, Noel Peacock, Andrew Farrell, Ray Cosgrove, Eoin Bennis, John Gillick, Craig Kilmurray, Peter Finn, Paul Croft, Mick O’Keeffe, Damian Flanagan, Joey O’Rourke, Ken Darcy, Tony Kiernan, Aidan Morrissey, Joey Morris, John Madden, Niall Bergin, Trevor Tansey, Kenneth Kelly, Alan McGill.