Roscommon 3-14
Galway 3-11

Two second half goals from Diarmuid Murtagh and Paul Kenny proved crucial as Roscommon successfully defended their Connacht U21 FC crown against Galway at Tuam Stadium.

Throughout an entertaining encounter, played in front of 4,796 spectators, the Tribesmen asked serious questions of Mark Dowd's side but they came up with the right answers to win back-to-back titles for the first time in their history.

The signs were ominous for the Rossies when they fell five points behind during the first half after captain Damien Comer and Enda Tierney raised green flags for the hosts.

But, in true champions style, they fought back to go in at the break with a slender 1-10 to 2-6 lead thanks to a Cathal Compton goal.

Galway also enjoyed the better of the early second-half exchanges and managed to regain the lead but they were knocked back on their heels when Murtagh pounced for his goal.

Then, with 12 minutes left on the clock, Enda Smith created the opening for Kenny who made no mistake and, at that stage, the scoreboard read 3-11 to 2-9 in the primrose and blue's favour.

Eamon Brannigan pulled a goal back for Galway on the stroke of full-time but it proved to be too little too late for Alan Flynn's charges as Roscommon picked up provincial title number nine.

Roscommon - S Mannion; N McInerney, S Mullooly, D Barron; C Hussey, C Kenny, R Daly; C Compton (1-0), T O'Rourke; S Killoran (0-2), U Harney (0-3), J Earley (0-1); D Murtagh (1-7, 0-6f), P Kenny (1-0), E Smith. Subs: E McGrath for C Hussey, K Kilcline (0-1) for S Killoran, N Gately for J Earley, T Corcoran for T O'Rourke, D McGann for P Kenny.

Galway - T O'Malley; A Nolan, J Wyndam, E Kerin; L Silke, C Cunningham, K Molloy (0-1); D Corbett, M Day; C Brady (0-3), J Heaney (0-1), E Tierney (1-1); E Brannigan (1-3), D Comer (1-2, 0-1f), G Kelly. Subs: M Farragher for G Kelly, E Finnerty for D Corbett, P Mannion for C Brady, J Donnellan for E Brannigan.

Referee - J Henry.

Congratulations to our Under 21 Footballers, Connacht Champions once again #EirGrid #ConnachtU21 pic.twitter.com/fR4xMtwA1J

- Roscommon GAA (@RoscommonGAA) April 4, 2015

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