U21 footballers face high-scoring Donegal in All-Ireland semi-final

Tue, 11th April 2017

Dublin's under-21 footballers face Donegal this Saturday in Kingspan Breffni Park in their EirGrid All-Ireland U21FC semi-final (2.30).

Donegal captured the Ulster title on Monday night when eventually outclassing Derry 3-17 to 0-13, the exact same score they defeated Cavan by in their semi-final, having overcome Tyrone 0-18 to 1-9 in their Ulster quarter-final replay.

The Dubs defeated Offaly, Longford and Westmeath in their successful run in Leinster, completing a provincial four in-a-row at this grade, but now face a major step up in class against a Donegal containing several players who prospered for their seniors in Division 1 of the league this year.

“It was great to win (Leinster Championship) and it was a reward for the players for all the efforts that they have put in," says Dublin manager Dessie Farrell.

“It’s a provincial title and we were delighted to win it but we weren’t really concerned with four-in-a-rows or anything like that."

The Dublin manager knows that his men now face a county strongly fancied since the outset of the competition.

"Football in Leinster is different to that in Ulster with the latter very structured in terms of their defensive set-up and focus on the counter-attack.

“It is something that filters down from senior ranks and it will be different to what our lads have experienced to date."