Strength in depth crucial for Dublin

UNDER-21 FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND FINAL/Dublin 2-12 Roscommon 0-11:UNDER-21 FOOTBALL was designed as the great leveller and this final didn't disappoint.

Rarely has one team been so admirable in victory and the other equally so in defeat.

Red-hot favourites Dublin had to win this the hard way – patiently, stubbornly perhaps, getting their hands on a second All-Ireland title within three years. It was never once comfortable, even if they proved marginally the better team in the end, hitting 1-4 to seal the deal when it mattered.

The final score certainly flatters Dublin; the sides were level with 10 minutes remaining, Roscommon at that stage looking more than capable of defying the odds and securing their first All-Ireland in the grade in 30 years.

What ultimately got Dublin over the line first was their depth in class, rather than any gulf in it. Manager Jim Gavin made five substitutions, and together they contributed 1-2, including an injury-time goal from Paul Mannion.

Roscommon proved a deftly skilled and thoroughly determined team. They were let down around midfield, at least when it came to winning their own kick-outs, but a series of magnificent points from full forwards Donie Smith, Cian Connelly and Colin Compton ensured this remained a thrilling contest until practically the end.

None of the four Roscommon substitutes, three of them forwards, managed to score, and that probably cost them as well, but the very fact that they forced Dublin into such running repairs is just one indication of how well they tested the Leinster champions.

Twice they came from behind too, conceding a costly goal to Dublin just before half-time, when John Kelly’s superb pass was pounced on by Paul Hudson, and blasted into the Roscommon net.

That gave Dublin a 1-5 to 0-6 advantage. They had absorbed a fairly ferocious opening onslaught and were 0-1 to 0-4 adrift .

Roscommon’s determination must have been buoyed on by the startlingly partisan crowd, they provided at least 90 per cent of the 12,000 in attendance. Dublin also hit seven wides in the first half, 11 in total, and looked nervous.

Roscommon, meanwhile, promptly levelled it again shortly after the restart, then hit two points in succession – including an absolute gem from Compton – to once again establish an exciting advantage, 0-10 to 1-5. Defensively they were some heroics too, Paddy Brogan and David Murray ensuring Dublin’s main scoring threat, Ciarán Kilkenny, got the attention he deserved. Gary Sweeney was the constant danger at centre forward, however, and Dublin always looked capable of shifting up a gear.

Eventually, coolly, Dublin closed up the gap once more, Kilkenny scoring only his second point on 49 minutes, under pressure. Dublin looked like a team that knew exactly what they needed to do to win.

Roscommon just couldn’t seem to win ball as easily as Dublin: they repeatedly surrendered their own kick-outs, while Dublin’s John Barry Carthy was smartly making every one of his kicks-outs count.

So, after a monstrous point from centre back John Kelly brought them level, Dublin pressed on. Roscommon’s brave challenge wilted and they failed to score again in the last 10 minutes.

Each of Gavin’s substitutions made their presence felt: Harry Dawson forced a good save from Tadhg Lowe. Gerry Seaver began the final glut of scores Dublin always threatened, and had delivered throughout their campaign.

Kilkenny added two more before the end too, with Mannion having the last word with his goal, set up by Dawson.

Roscommon manager Nigel Dineen said Dublin’s bench possibly made the telling difference – and their edge around midfield: “They had very big men, very physically strong, and for a couple of kick outs in the second-half they just completely contested on their own. We just couldn’t get near them . . but our lads did their best and that’s all you could ask for.”

DUBLIN: J B Carthy; M Concar, K O’Brien (capt), S George; L Fletcher, J Kelly (0-1), J McCaffrey; E O Conghaile, C Reddin; D Byrne, G Sweeney, M Schutte; C Kilkenny (0-4, one free), P Ryan (0-1), P Hudson (1-4). Subs: P Maguire for Schutte (ht), G Seaver (0-1) for Byrne (35 mins), H Dawson (0-1) for Ryan (41 mins), P O’Higgins for Reddin (42 mins), P Mannion (1-0) for Hudson (58 mins).

ROSCOMMON: T Lowe; C Cafferkey, C Duignan, D Murray, C Daly, P Brogan (capt), R Stack; C Shine, N Daly; S Oates, N Kilroy, D Keane (0-2); C Connolly (0-2), C Compton (0-3, one free), D Smith (0-4, two frees). Subs: J McManus for Keane (48 mins), F Cregg for Stack (55 mins), C Murtagh for Connolly (58), F Kelly for Kilroy (60 mins).

Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).