Fair play to the Dublin and Roscommon fans, all of whom have been very gratious to Tipp and Tyrone respectively. I was impressed with Tipp, especially some of their bigger players around midfield, and am sure that they'll trouble a smaller Tyrone pairing in that area.

As for Tyrone, I thought we were sharper and faster than Roscommon from the thrown in, and kept close to those intensity levels throughout. Maybe it was conditioning or hunger, or maybe it was because we had negotiated a very competitive Ulster campaign, but it looked like we were playing the game at a different speed to Roscommon. Lee Brennan was superb, as were the entire fullback line and Cathal McShane. All of them, really, especially in terms of work rate and speed of movement.

Roscommon will still get plenty of fine seniors from this side, and may even end up with more making the grade than Tyrone. Still, we're delighted for now, and looking forward to our first AI final in a couple of years.

Thomas Clarke (Tyrone) - Posts: 1002 - 20/04/2015 14:07:40    1715738

tiobraid

How does there development squads work?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 20/04/2015 15:04:51    1715761

The best team won Saturday and being beaten the last 3 years by all Ireland u21 champions I have no doubt but tyrone will be the 4th to beat us.
Probably of the last 4 on Saturdays display Tyrone were the best team to beat us.
We had a few below par performers because they were excellently singled out and we're not allowed to play there game.
Well done Tyrone as with most neutrals ill be cheering on Tipp but I believe if tyrone play with the same intensity as Saturday they won't be beaten

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 20/04/2015 15:22:36    1715766

Geoff - another awful tragedy hard to believe can't help but think of the family driving past on Saturday.

Conor McKenna would undoubtedly be an asset as will a fit Mark Bradley who's a terrific footballer off both feet.

That said, it's a team game and the boys have dug in to make up for any losses...inspired stuff playing for county pride.

Important though is Tyrone were highest scorers yet labelled 'the' defensive team

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 20/04/2015 16:19:28    1715789

Redhanddefender - how were the media abusing Tyrone under 21's over the last few months? I wasn't aware of such treatment

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 20/04/2015 17:00:44    1715802

Ban
County: Westmeath
Posts: 407

1715802
Redhanddefender - how were the media abusing Tyrone under 21's over the last few months? I wasn't aware of such treatment
------
Was thinking the same myself. I read a few articles in the 'southern media' ahead of the game but I didn't see any disrespecting the Tyrone U21s. Yes I think all tipped Roscommon but who wouldn't when they made 2 of the last 3 finals I think. Were 'northern media' sources tipping Tyrone to win this game? What was in these other articles that the Tyrone team took exception to? Fair play to the Tyrone fellas if their team took abuse. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite them now in the final.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 20/04/2015 17:46:55    1715818

"In reality, Roscommon lost because they simply didn't have enough blokes who can kick the ball over the bar. Was it one point from play in the second half? Or little more than that - tells its own story. Roscommon have a good defence (Tyrone didn't get too many chances either, the difference was what few chances we got, we took) and a good midfield, but they were poorly supported by their forwards - didn't see anyone of the class of a D Shine in that U21 team".

I would disagree with a lot of that. You could say Kerry didn't have scoring forwards in 2003 as tyrone kept them to 9 points

1) Roscommons forwards most certainly can kick the ball over. Over the last years, off the top of my head;
2014 Connacht final Roscommon 0-19 Leitrim 1-03
2014 AI semi Final Roscommon 1-19 Cork 3-12
2015 Hastings cup Roscommon 4-12 Meath 0-01
2015 Hastings cup final Roscommon 2-21 Galway 1-11
2015 Connacht semi final Roscommon 6-18 Sligo 0-12
2015 Connacht final Roscommon 3-14 Galway 3-11

Roscommon simply played a team whose intense tackling and system did not allow us to score. If Tyrone didn't maintain the levels they did, for sure we would have scored more. Some of the points that kept us in it were 1/10 shots. The fact it was maintained for a whole game was incredible It was an incredible effort by tyrone. I have not ben that impressed in a team in a long time. I did not expect it il be honest. We lost because tyrone stopped us from scoring not that we couldn't score.

Rosfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 778 - 20/04/2015 19:30:44    1715840

20/04/2015 10:02:38
essmac
County: Tyrone
Posts: 105



In reality, Roscommon lost because they simply didn't have enough blokes who can kick the ball over the bar. Was it one point from play in the second half? Or little more than that - tells its own story. Roscommon have a good defence (Tyrone didn't get too many chances either, the difference was what few chances we got, we took) and a good midfield, but they were poorly supported by their forwards - didn't see anyone of the class of a D Shine in that U21 team.

D Shine didn't score anything close to what D Murtagh has scored at U-21 grade and Murtagh was the top scoring forward at U-21 level last year and he still has another year left at this grade.

One of the main differences Saturday without a doubt was the defending and i would encourage you to watch the game back. Bad defending has been a problem for us at all levels the Tyrone half backs for example ran forward all evening without a hand put on them. In contrast we were rarely allowed to get shot off within 30 yards.

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 20/04/2015 20:44:30    1715854

Why is the final fixed for Navan? It should be in Croke Park even if the crowd will be small. Tipp footballers don't get to play there often (yet anyways) and it's a national final.

Also if they were intending to stage outside Croke Park, surely they could have picked a better venue than Navan, it has to be one of the worst county grounds in the country.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 21/04/2015 20:45:56    1716191

I think it has always been outside Croke park. I was at Dublin's last two finals and they were in Tullamore. Galway beat Cork in Limerick in 2013 so somebody is obviously sticking a pin into a map at a halfway point between the two county finalists and trying to find a reasonable ground nearby.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/04/2015 21:38:44    1716219

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=236095

Parnell ...But not confirmed

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 25/04/2015 11:34:42    1717314

Tyronetim
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1201

1717314
http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=236095

Parnell ...But not confirmed

I hope so!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 25/04/2015 12:09:22    1717331

Firstly the pitch in navan is one of the best in country, so for a game it is perfect. However the neglect by the gaa and Meath county boards of past have left a stadium that's not fit for purpose. The redevelopment of the stand (a completely new one) and the terracing of both ends behind both goals should be the number one priority of the gaa, enough messing about. They can fund white elephant in mayo and cork and Antrim Leinster needs another stadium that can handle big games like this, disgraceful that we have these facilities in this day and age for a county that is one of the pillars of gaa football.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/04/2015 12:11:31    1717332

Handy one for you Mesamis...Glad you're interested ...the cat's out the bag for us and Tiobraid Árann probably should've been the favourites from the outset. Stephen O'Brien is a juggernaut and Ath Cliath tried everything to curtail but he found a way. Reminds me of Aidan O'Se a bit.
Train might be the job for me avoid the parking and be fit for pints.

That would be my take on Tailteann ...great pitch but 1970s facilities ...for Meath too. Probably suffered with Leinsters funds going Crocaigh, Parnell, o'Moore park. Casement is a different fish ...big funding from Stormont executive..and intent on replacing Clones as provincial ground. It's redevelopment is looking protracted and involved a number of shambolic venue changes in Ulster already.

On a hot day for scenery and setting Markievitz pairc last week would take some beating

Tyronetim (Tyrone) - Posts: 1254 - 25/04/2015 13:59:28    1717351

Royaldunne I agree with you. Even though Navan has been a graveyard for Louth teams down through the years I love going to the venue. Its less than half an hour from me and its a great location. Its fairly central in Meath. My best championship moment in Navan was Louth beating Kildare in 2010.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 25/04/2015 14:07:55    1717353

I Louth have a great tradition in navan too. If bot so many happy ones but they always played their best football there. Its in a sad state at the minute Ollie and i am worried that even league and O'Byrne games will soon be moved, ample parking, Central, great pitch , but the facilities are a disgrace for this day and age.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/04/2015 14:17:25    1717355

Lots of counties have great pitches but you must have the facilities and Navan has none. To suggest it could ever hold an U21 All Ireland final was a bit of an insult to Tipp and Tyrone. To have grass banks in this day and age....

Leinster does need another decent mid size stadium to use instead of Croke Park. Portlaoise looks like the obvious choice to re-develop.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 25/04/2015 14:55:41    1717362

Lots of counties have great pitches but you must have the facilities and Navan has none. To suggest it could ever hold an U21 All Ireland final was a bit of an insult to Tipp and Tyrone. To have grass banks in this day and age....

Leinster does need another decent mid size stadium to use instead of Croke Park. Portlaoise looks like the obvious choice to re-develop.

Portlaoise has been redeveloped, it has terracing on all three sides and a new stand built in the 2000's, why should it be redeveloped any more?? All the decent stadia in Leinster are in the mid or south of the province such as Portlaoise, Tullamore, Kilkenny & Wexford. North Leinster needs a proper venue and Navan fits the bill. I don't think either Tipp or Tyrone would take insult to playing in Navan, bad and all as the place is it still has a larger capacity than Parnell Park. As for grass banks well yes they should be long gone but look plenty of grounds had them until recent times and some still do, I remember standing on those supposed terraces at the Gaelic Grounds not much more than 10 years ago so whilst we are admittedly slow were not that slow.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 25/04/2015 15:15:17    1717366

County man. Your ignorance of Leinster grounds is unreal, portlaoise has a fine stadium and needs no redevelopment, and trust me ive seen plenty of grounds including your own counties where the pitch is in poor conditions. The grass banks have not been used in navan for a few years and are closed off, they would not be used for final should it have taken place either. As navan can accommodate a large crowd without them.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/04/2015 15:21:09    1717368

Obviously, I hope I'm wrong, but I can see Tyrone getting caught by Tipperary.

It's not that unusual nowadays to see players running 30 metres or more without being challenged, teams will let you run into traffic happily enough; it doesn't mean that they're not defending properly. I don't buy that Roscommon defended poorly. Lee Brennan for Tyrone is a player with an ability to get scores from half-chances against even a good defence, and we needed that to get through. I thought the Roscommon midfielders put in a great shift and caught some great ball and made some huge runs forward - which was great to watch. But I also felt that they didn't always get the support they needed. Their forward play, while good, was perhaps too predictable - great catch in midfield, inspiring run, but straight down the middle, letting Tyrone defence settle and no clear outlet and not released early enough either - straight into traffic. Tyrone in the end were relatively-comfortable defending against Roscommon and had Roscommon varied their play a bit more, it may well have worked for them. I just thought there's more in that Roscommon team and to an extent they made us look good by being too easy to read. OK Shine mayn't score every time he goes out, but I've always been impressed with his unpredictability, his movement off the ball and his ability to find space and wrong-foot a defence - had someone like him being available for Roscommon's U21s, it may well have been a different story. End of the day though, winning an U21 trophy would be nice, but it's not the most important thing - the main value of the U21s is that they can be a good supply to the seniors and if both teams get a few additions to their seniors, that's the main thing.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 25/04/2015 15:26:59    1717369