U21 footballers topple Donegal to reach All-Ireland final

DUBLIN 1-13 DONEGAL 0-9

Dublin under-21s put in a superb display to overcome a highly-rated Donegal and progress to this year's EirGrid All-Ireland U21FC final in two weeks time.

The Dubs will face Galway in the final, themselves underdog victors over Kerry in their semi-final, on Saturday, April 29 (O'Connor Park, Tullamore, 5.0).

Dessie Farrell's side came with a tactical game that worked brilliantly as they stymied Donegal's high-paced counter-attacking game that had paid rich dividends in their successful Ulster campaign, the final of which only took place last Monday night.

Dublin also lost Con O'Callaghan to a fourth minute black card but their work-rate and attitude ensured that they were not rocked by the loss of such a talented forward and team co-captain while midfielder Andy Foley had to be replaced in the 23rd minute owing to injury.

The boys in blue led 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval and had shut down their opponents for the opening 24 minutes before Donegal eventually opened their account, to make it 0-4 to 0-1, with a Michael Langan free.

The Dubs were more clinical in possession and were patient and strong in possession with players such as Brian Howard playing a real leadership role while Glenn O'Reilly kicked two first half points with Con O'Callaghan (free), Tom Fox and the impressive Aaron Byrne all on target.

Donegal pegged the Dubs back with the first two points of the second half but crucially Dublin responded with points from Aaron Byrne, Cian Murphy and a brace of frees from Byrne to make it 0-9 to 0-4.

The energetic Darren Byrne popped up in attack to push Dublin 0-10 to 0-5 clear before the only goal of the game arrived in the 50th minute when Sean McMahon burst onto the end of a superb Dublin move to fire to the roof of the net.

Chris Sallier rocked Donegal back with a monster point and Dublin were out of sight when leading 1-11 to 0-6 before Andrew McGowan gave them further space when on target.

Donegal pressed to the finish but Dublin's defence held strong while at the other end Cian Murphy added his second score of the day.

The Dubs finished with 14 men after Tony O’Sullivan was black-carded in injury time and Dublin couldn’t replace him having used all six subs.

SCORERS - Dublin: A Byrne 0-4 (0-2f), S McMahon 1-0, G O’Reilly, C Murphy 0-2 each, C Sallier, A McGowan, D Byrne, T Fox, C O’Callaghan (0-1f) 0-1 each. Donegal: M Langan 0-4 (0-2f), N O’Donnell 0-2, M Carroll, S McBrearty, E O’Donnell 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: E Comerford; D Byrne, C O’Shea, E Murchan; C O’Callaghan, S McMahon, C Murphy; B Howard, A Foley; T Fox, A Byrne, G O’Reilly; D Gavin, C Basquel, D O’Brien. Subs: C Sallier for O’Callaghan (bc, 4), A Elliot for Foley (23, inj), D Spillane for Fox (37), A McGowan for O’Reilly (47), T O’Sullivan for Sallier (57), S Clayton for Basquel (60).

DONEGAL: D Rodgers; B McCole, S McMenamin, C Morrison; D O’Baoill, C Mulligan, E Ban Gallagher; J McGee, T McClenaghan; S McBrearty, M Kyle, M Carroll; J Brennan, L Connor, M Langan Subs: C Doherty for Kyle (15), N O’Donnell for McBrearty (24), E O’Donnell for Connor (37), R Carr for Mulligan (43), C McGonigle for McClenaghan (50), S McBrearty for O’Baoill (55).

REF: J Bermingham (Cork).