Dublin 1-21
Roscommon 3-6

A devastating first half display laid the foundations for Dublin's second All-Ireland U21 football triumph in three years at a damp and dreary O'Connor Park.

Dessie Farrell's charges ran amok in the opening period to build up an unassailable 0-14 to 0-1 half-time lead. When man of the match Conor McHugh scored the winners' only goal to bring his tally to 1-5 from play five minutes after the restart, they had extended their lead to a whopping 19 points, 1-17 to 0-1.

At this juncture, Roscommon were staring at an embarrassing defeat but, to their credit, they hit back with three goals in an amazing five-minute spell. However, they were always fighting a losing battle as Dublin calmly closed out the game to further underline their dominance of their football landscape at the moment.

Roscommon, who had looked so impressive en route to the final, will wonder what might have been had they turned up in the first half. They appeared overawed by the occasion and gave the deadly Dublin full forward line of McHugh, Cormac Costello and Paul Mannion far too much space.

And while they recovered to 'win' the second half, there could be no disputing Dublin's superiority. Twenty-two scores to nine tells its own story.

A huge Roscommon crowd was in early to see their ladies footballers beat Antrim to capture the National League Division 4 title. But that was as good as it got for them as Dublin set about crushing the high hopes of a first All-Ireland U21 title since 1978 in a one-sided opening 30 minutes.

The sides were level just once when Paul Mannion's first-minute left-footed point was quickly cancelled out by an Ultan Harney reply. Remarkably, that proved to be the Rossies' only score of the half as the Leinster champions proceeded to take total control of the game.

Utterly dominant in the half back line and at midfield, the Dubs took a lead they wouldn't relinquish when Mannion converted a free after Niall Scully had been grounded.

Cormac Costello showed his star quality by making it 0-3 to 0-1 after soloing half the length of the pitch. The flame-haired Conor McHugh then took centre stage with three classy points in quick succession to ease the winners into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead with barely nine minutes played.

The signs were already ominous for Roscommon at this stage as Mannion tagged on a '45' to extend Dublin's advantage. However, in a rare attack, Nigel Dineen's men were given hope when Donie Smith was taken down for a 14th minute penalty by Dublin full back David Byrne who received a black card for his troubles, and was replaced by Emmet Ó Conghaile.

The Roscommon number 15 dusted himself down to take the spot kick, but he hit his daisy-cutter much too close to Dublin 'keeper Lorcan Molloy, who comfortably saved with both hands.

The Connacht champions were made to pay for that miss as Niall Scully (from close to the right sideline) and Costello (free) extended Dublin's lead to eight points, 0-9 to 0-1, after 21 minutes.

Roscommon introduced Michael Gunning at full forward for Mark Nally, but there was no respite as Mannion stroked over a 35-metre free and Costello broke through for another point when a goal had briefly looked on.

It continued to be one-way traffic as McHugh kicked his fourth from play after wing back Eric Lowndes had found him with a brilliant pass out of defence. Thomas Featherson came on for Cathal Kenny at corner back for Roscommon, but it mattered little as Mannion popped over a close-in free to make it 0-13 to 0-1 after 27 minutes.

Roscommon's day was summed up with Ronan Daly's attempt for a point struck the upright and his brother Conor was then forced off through injury, with Niall McInerney replacing him. There was still time for Costello to nail another free and leave all of 13 points between the sides at the short whistle.

Roscommon were playing for pride in the second half, but it was Dublin who picked up from where they had left off before the break. Mannion should have had a goal within 30 seconds of the restart after being set up by Costello, but his soccer-style effort flew over the crossbar.

Lowndes teed up McHugh for another point before Mannion slotted over another free. And the game was well and truly up for Roscommon when Mannion and Costello combined to set up McHugh for a neat finish to the left hand corner of the net.

When Diarmuid Murtagh finally registered Roscommon's second point in the 36th minute, it provided the spark for a crazy spell which yielded three goals and must have had Dublin worried.

From Lorcan Molloy's resultant kick-out, the ball was cleverly worked to Murtagh who palmed the ball to the net. Three minutes later, Ciaran Kilcline sent a rocket to the roof of the net after full back Sean Mullolly's high ball had broken kindly to him. And the Connacht champions had the margin down to nine points, 3-2 to 1-17, when Murtagh flicked home his second after corner back David Murray had supplied the final pass.

It was that man McHugh who broke Roscommon's momentum with another superb point, which was cancelled out by Ultan Harney.

Senior star Jack McCaffrey then got his name on the scoresheet before Costello pulled up with what looked like a muscle strain and was replaced by Shane Cunningham.

Roscommon kept coming and Lorcan Molloy needed to be alert to kept David Murray's effort out. Enda Smith narrowed the gap with a 53rd minute point, but back came Dublin with two from Mannion (free) and Cunningham, either side of an incident for which Donie Smith should have received a red card.

Murtagh landed a late free for Roscommon but, in truth, their fate had been sealed long before then.

Scorers - Dublin: C McHugh 1-6, P Mannion 0-8 (5f, 1 '45'), C Costello 0-4 (2f), N Scully 0-1, J McCaffrey 0-1, S Cunningham 0-1. Roscommon: D Murtagh 2-3 (2f), K Kilcline 1-0, U Harney 0-2, E Smith 0-1.

Dublin: Lorcan Molloy; Ross McGowan, David Byrne, Robbie McDaid; Eric Lowndes, John Small, Jack McCaffrey; Patrick O'Higgins, Brian Fenton; Niall Scully, S Boland, C Mullally; Paul Mannion, Cormac Costello, Conor McHugh. Subs: Emmet Ó Conghaile for D Byrne (Black Card, 14), Graham Hannigan for S Boland (44), Gavin Ivory for P O'Higgins (45), Shane Cunningham for C Costello (50), Niall Walsh for P Mannion (60).

Roscommon: Colm Lavin; Cathal Kenny, Seán Mullooly, David Murray; Ronan Daly, John McManus, Conor Daly; Ultan Harney, Thomas Corcoran; Kieran Kilcline, Mark Healy, Enda Smith; Diarmuid Murtagh, Mark Nally, Donie Smith. Subs: Michael Gunning for M Nally (22), T Featherston for C Kenny (25), Niall McInerney for C Daly (30), Adrian Gleeson for M Gunning (HT), Stephen Flynn for Ronan Daly (50), Shane Killoran for M Healy (59).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry). Tweet

Most Read Stories