U21 footballers crowned Leinster champions

DUBLIN 2-14 OFFALY 0-8

Dublin are Leinster U21 football champions for the fourth year in-row following this 12-point victory over Offaly in Wednesday night’s decider in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

The Dubs finished the game out in style with two Con O’Callaghan points coming before a Stephen Smith goal, following great work by Aaron Elliot, in added time adding gloss to the final scoreline in front of an attendance of just over 2,000.

After leading by five points at half-time Dessie Farrell’s side extended their lead with a Con O’Callaghan free and goal from Tom Fox following a clever flick on by Dan O’Brien in the lead-up before Fox worked a one-two with O’Callaghan.

Glenn O’Reilly’s point made it 1-12 to 0-5 after 40 minutes and the Dubs were never really in trouble.

However, Dublin seemed to let the quality of their tackling drop and Offaly capitalised to some degree to reduce the deficit to 1-12 to 0-8 before Dublin’s late flurry of scores.

In tricky underfoot conditions Dublin led 0-10 to 0-5 at the break with the influential Aaron Byrne kicking three points from play as well as converting a ‘45’.

The Dubs opened smartly with a Tom Fox point in the second minute but had a Dan O’Brien ‘goal’ disallowed shortly after as Chris Sallier was adjudged to have thrown the ball.

Shane Tierney equalised for Offaly before points from Glenn O’Reilly and Chris Sallier gave the Dubs a two-point advantage by the seventh minute.

Two minutes later the Faithful County had a goal chance but Ronan McEvoy’s rising shot flew over the crossbar.

Dublin responded well with two well worked scores with the impressive Aaron Byrne finishing off both moves to lead 0-5 to 0-2.

Just at the midpoint of the half good interplay between Con O’Callaghan and Chris Sallier put the Thomas Davis forward through on goal but his angled shot was parried out for a ‘45’ by Offaly keeper Barry Rohan.

Na Fianna’s Aaron Byrne slotted that over to extend Dublin’s lead.

Tierney cut the deficit before Tom Fox grabbed his second point following good work by Con O’Callaghan.

Offaly enjoyed their best period then as Dublin began to get a bit careless in possession but failed to turn their chances into scores bar two good efforts from Tierney and midfielder Jordan Hayes.

Dublin closed the half out on top with points from Eoin Murchan and a Con O’Callaghan free after the Cuala man had been fouled himself.

SCORERS - Dublin: T Fox 1-2, A Byrne (0-1 ‘45’), C O’Callaghan (0-2f) 0-4 each, S Smith 1-0, G O’Reilly 0-2, C Sallier, E Murchan 0-1 each. Offaly: S Tierney 0-4 (0-1f), J Hayes 0-3 (0-2f), R McEvoy 0-1.

DUBLIN: E Comerford; D Monaghan, S McMahon, D Byrne; E Murchan, C O’Shea, C Murphy; B Howard, A Foley; T Fox, D O’Brien, A Byrne; C Sallier, C O’Callaghan, G O’Reilly. Subs: S Smith for Sallier (41), S Bugler for O’Brien (41), D Gavin for Fox (48), A Elliot for O’Reilly (51), A McGowan for Monaghan (56).

OFFALY: B Rohan; C Horan, D Dempsey, C Doyle; A Mahon, PJ Daly, J Egan; J Lalor, J Hayes; C Farrell, R McEvoy, J Walsh; R McNamee, P Dunican, S Tierney. Subs: K Higgins for Daly (41), J Clancy for Dunican (49), C Stewart for Egan (62).

REF: D Hickey (Carlow).