All-Ireland U21 FC final: McShane goal swings decider in Red Hands favour

May 02, 2015

Tipperary's Paul Maher is tackled by Kieran McGeary of Tyrone
©INPHO

Tyrone 1-11
Tipperary 0-13

Tyrone got their hands on the All-Ireland U21 FC silverware for the first time since 2001 after edging a nail biting encounter against Tipperary in wet conditions at Parnell Park this evening.

Cathal McShane's 48th minute goal proved to be the difference between two closely matched sides at the final whistle.

There was a delay to the start of the second-half as ambulance personnel attended to a member of the crowd but, when play resumed, Fergal Logan's charges overturned a 0-5 to 0-7 half-time deficit.

The Tyrone midfielder deservedly picked up the 'man-of-the-match' accolade afterwards while Daniel McNulty (three frees), Mark Bradley, Mark Kavanagh and Lee Brennan (two points each) also found the target for the Red Hands.

Kevin O'Halloran raised six white flags (five frees) for the Premier County but his efforts proved to be in vain as the Munster men just came up short.

Tommy Twomey's side marked their first ever appearance in an All-Ireland U-21 football decider with a gutsy display and, up until McShane's goal, they appeared comfortable in the driving seat.

With captain Colin O'Riordan driving them on from midfield, they took the game to their Ulster opponents from the word go and, to their credit, refused to drop their heads after the set-back of conceding the goal.

The Premier County had a goal disallowed in injury-time while Tyrone defender Michael Cassidy was red-carded in the 65th minute.

In the end, however, it was Tyrone who were celebrating a fifth All-Ireland U21 FC success.

Tyrone - S Fox; R Mullan, P Hampsey, C McLaughlin; M Cassidy (0-1), R Brennan, K McGeary; F Burns, C McShane (1-0); M Kavanagh (0-2), C Meyler (0-1), M Walsh; M Bradley (0-2), D McNulty (0-3f), L Brennan (0-2f). Subs: R McGlone for M Walsh, R Kelly for C McShane, P McKenna for L Brennan.

Tipperary - E Comerford; C O'Shaughnessy, J Feehan, K Fahey; R Mulcahy, L Boland, B Maher (0-1); S O'Brien, C O'Riordan (0-2, 1f); J Lonergan, I Fahey (0-1), L Casey; K O'Halloran (0-6, 5f), J Keane (0-3, 1f), P Maher. Sub: J McGrath for P Maher.

Referee - F Kelly.


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