Roscommon 3-17
Kildare 3-16

Roscommon earned All-Ireland Under 21 B Hurling honours the hard way at Semple Stadium, Thurles today prevailing by just a point in the end.

In ideal conditions, the wind influenced this game little with both sides producing an excellent decider that left spectators on the edge of their seats throughout.

Dual player Niall Kilroy made up for the disappointment of losing the All-Ireland Under 21 Football Final earlier this year with a magnificent display, registering six points from play and also claiming the Bord Gais Energy Man of the Match award.

Kildare entered this game as favourites, and with the Lilywhites seeking a first All-Ireland success they were always going to be very hungry for scores.

The Leinster champions were boosted by the inclusion of Senior player Martin Fitzgerald, who missed the provincial decider while the Lilywhites were also able to call on fellow Senior players Gerry Keegan and Conor Kenny.

All three would have a major influence on this game, with Kenny opening the scoring with less than 90 seconds gone on the clock.

Roscommon upped their game as scores from Jamie Lawlor and Robbie Fallon pushed them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after three minutes.

Kildare equalised through Kenny, but Roscommon had plenty of tricks up their sleeves with Seamus Qualter's charges claiming the opening goal after five minutes.

Robbie Kelly breaking free and setting off on a bursting run, with the Four Masters clubman slotting the ball past Cormac Gallagher.

Kildare responded with Kenny's third point, but Roscommon moved 1-4 to 0-3 ahead after eight minutes following points from Robbie Fallon and Liam Kilcline.

Fallon claimed Roscommon's second goal after 12 minutes to move 2-4 to 0-4 in-front, but Kildare offered the perfect response.

Conor O'Hehir and Keegan firing a goal each inside 90 seconds to tied the game for the third time at 2-4 apiece.

O'Hehir's effort coming from the tightest of angles, while Keegan's effort came after the Celbridge clubman left both Peter Kellahan and Darren Fallon in his wake.

The sides traded points on two occasions betwen the 18th and 24th minutes, before Roscommon got the upper hand before the interval.

A brace of Kilroy points pushing Qualter's charges 2-9 to 2-7 ahead at the break.

This game continued to be on a knife-edge during an entertaining second-half, with the teams swapping points on two occasions inside three minutes of the restart.

Roscommon looked like taking control after full-forward Naos Connaughton claimed a 35th minute goal after slotting past five Kildare defenders.

A Kilroy point opened up a six-point gap for the first time in this game on a 3-12 to 2-9 score-line, but Kildare launched a brave comeback.

The Lilywhites firmly put their shoulders to the wheel and it reaped dividends scoring 1-6 without reply between the 37th and 49th minutes.

A 38th minute goal from Conor Kenny kick-starting the Kildare charge, with Conor O'Hare, Fitzgerald and Keegan also claiming scores during this spell.

3-15 to 3-12 ahead and with a little under 12 minutes to go Kildare looked on target for a historic victory, but Roscommon weren't keen to throw in the towel.

Robbie Fallon claimed three vital points late on, with goalkeeper Noel Fallon also scoring from a free.

Kildare kept plugging away at the death, but found it hard to turn possession into scores, with a late Liam McDonagh pointed 65 metre free too little too late.

After the game GAA President Liam O'Neill presented the Cup to Roscommon captain Peter Kellahan.

Scorers for Roscommon: Robbie Fallon (4f, 1 65') 1-6; Niall Kilroy 0-6; Naos Connaughton 1-1; Robbie Kelly 1-0; Jamie Lawlor 0-2; Liam  Kilcline, Noel Fallon (1f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kildare: Conor Kenny ( 1 '65) 1-5; Gerry Keegan 1-3; Conor O Hehir 1-1;  Martin Fitzgerald 0-3; Philip Cocoman, Liam McDonagh (1 65') 0-1 each.

ROSCOMMON: Noel Fallon; Mark Keaveney, Peter Kellahan, Darren Fallon; Cathal Dolan, Brian Donnelly, Niall Keenan; Eamon Mulry, Jamie Lawlor; Peter Leahy, Niall Kilroy, Robbie Kelly; Robbie Fallon, Naos Connaughton, Liam Kilcline. Subs: Hugh Rooney for Kilcline (49); Ciarán Shaw for Lawlor (52).

KILDARE: Cormac Gallagher; Ryan McGrath, Mark Carter, Darach Mac Donnadha; Shane O'Flynn, Mick Purcell, Kevin Whelan; Liam McDonagh, Martin Fitzgerald; Philip Cocoman, Conor Kenny, Ross Kelly; Conor O'Hehir, Gerry Keegan, Mark Delaney. Subs:  Fergal Conway for Purcell (HT); Declan Flaherty for O Hehir (48); Sean Gainey for Delaney (48).

REFEREE: David Copps (Cork) Tweet

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