Dublin 1-13
Donegal 0-9
EVEN THE LOSS of their star forward Con O’Callaghan in the opening moments couldn’t derail the challenge of Dublin today as they surged impressively into the EirGrid All-Ireland U21 football final at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Dessie Farrell’s side saw O’Callaghan shown a black card in the 3rd minute but they responded to dominate long stages of this game.
Sean McMahon’s 51st minute goal was the confirmation that Dublin would advance past a Donegal team that were only crowned Ulster champions last Monday night and looked sluggish here in comparison to their electric provincial form.
Man-of-the-match Brian Howard impressed for Dublin while Aaron Byrne and Eoin Murchan also produced important contributions to propel them into the final.
The first half was a poor affair with Dublin dominating as they went ahead 0-5 to 0-2 by the interval. Donegal only managed a single point from play in that time, courtesy of Michael Carroll, and didn’t get off the mark on the scoreboard until the 24th minute when Michael Langan converted a free.
Donegal pounced for the opening two points of the second half yet Dublin rallied to string together four unanswered points with Na Fianna’s Byrne impressing.
Dublin were 0-9 to 0-4 at the end of the third quarter before McMahon lashed home the goal nine minutes from time that pushed them nine points clear.
Donegal tried to best to cut the deficit with a few couple of sublime points by Stephen McBrearty and Niall O’Donnell but there was no stopping Dublin from storming into the final.
Scorers for Dublin: Aaron Byrne 0-4 (0-2f), Sean McMahon 1-0, Glenn O’Reilly, Cian Murphy 0-2 each, Chris Sallier, Andrew McGowan, Darragh Byrne, Tom Fox, Con O’Callaghan (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Donegal: Michael Langan 0-4 (0-2f), Niall O’Donnell 0-2, Michael Carroll, Stephen McBrearty, Ethan O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Darren Byrne (Raheny)
3. Cillian O’Shea (Kilmacud Crokes – captain)
4. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
19. Darren Gavin (Lucan Sarsfields)
6. Seán McMahon (Raheny)
7. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis)
8. Andy Foley (Clontarf)
9. Tom Fox (Kilmacud Crokes)
10. Glenn O’Reilly (Na Fianna)
11. Aaron Byrne (Na Fianna)
12. Brian Howard (Raheny)
22. Colm Basquel (Ballyboen St-Enda’s)
14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
15. Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes)
Subs
13. Chris Sallier (Thomas Davis) for O’Callaghan (black card) (4)
20. Aaron Elliot (Ballymun Kickhams) for Foley (23)
24. Darragh Spillane (Cuala) for Fox (37)
21. Andrew McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes) for O’Reilly (47)
Tony O’Sullivan (Whitehall Colmcille’s) for Sallier (56)
17. Shane Clayton (Ballyboden St-Enda’s) for Basquel (60)
Donegal
1. Danny Rodgers (Dungloe)
2. Conor Morrison (St Eunan’s)
19. Stephen McMenamin (Aodh Ruadh)
4. Eoghan Bán Gallagher (Killybegs)
5. Dáire Ó Baoill (Gaoth Dobhair)
6. Tony McClenaghan (Moville)
7. Brendan McCole (Naomh Naille)
8. Michael Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair)
9. Michael Langan (St Michael’s)
10. Jamie Brennan (Bundoran)
22. Mark Coyle (Burt)
25. Jason McGee (Cloughaneely)
13. Lorcan Connor (Downings)
14. Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair)
18. Stephen McBrearty (Kilcar)
Subs
Conor Doherty for Coyle (15)
11. Niall O’Donnell (St Eunan’s) for McBrearty (24)
12. Ethan O’Donnell (Naomh Conaill) for Connor (37)
23. Rory Carr (St Eunan’s) for Mulligan (43)
15. Caolan McGonigle (Buncrana) for McClenaghan (50)
18. Stephen McBrearty (Kilcar) for Ó Baoill (55).
Referee: James Bermingham (Cork)
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Nice to see a few players for the future coming in
Should be a cracker of a final. Well done to both teams, looking forward to the final.
Ciarán Gillespie was a loss for Donegal. Guessing he was injured.