Brave Rossies rocked by late sky blue scoring spree

A truly outstanding Roscommon performance which seemed destined to secure the county's third national title in this grade was thwarted by a dynamic Dublin late rally in this pulsating All-Ireland U21 FC final on Sunday last. That Dublin scoring burst realised an unanswered 1-6 in the final 14 minutes (including two added-on). Played on the lush sward of Tullamore's O'Connor Park in front of an estimated 10,000 spectators (the overwhelming majority of whom sported Primrose and Blue colours), this was dubbed by many as a classic 'David v Goliath' affair. Nigel Dineen's gallant young men of the west were not given a literal pup's chance against a metropolitan squad who, with the exception of Wexford in round one of the Leinster campaign, had driven a coach and four through all-comers en route, amassing an impressive total score of 11-75. However, the Connacht champions, judging by their subsequent display, either totally ignored or paid little heed to the pre-match fanciful nonsense. Hugely encouraged by their legions of supporters, they hit the magnificently manicured Offaly venue with all the force of a modern day scud-missile, simultaneously knocking the highly-rated Dubs off their well-chartered routine. And so it was that, with just 54 seconds on the clock, and playing against what over breeze there was, a foul on Donie Smith led to the Boyle sharpshooter himself edging his side ahead from the resultant free. This was precursor to a really power-packed display of courage, determination and a huge measure of football ability against visibly-rattled opponents. Though ending in a wide, copybook interplay featuring Scott Oates, Colin Compton, Donal Keane and a fired-up Cian Connolly gave evidence of how 'up for it' Roscommon were. Ciaran Kilkenny, who started at full-forward for Dublin, and Philip Ryan, had two untypical wides, before Niall Daly's darting run thought the Dublin defence earned another free, pointed by Colin Compton (ninth minute). Cian Connolly was initiating many forward forays for Roscommon and enjoying one of his best outings in the current championship. But Jim Gavin's men finally got on the scoreboard in the 12th minute, with a point from corner-forward Paul Hudson. The Roscommon defence, superbly marshalled by team captain Paddy Brogan with corner-backs Ciaran Cafferkey and especially David Murray also in fine form, were giving little away to their highly rated opposite numbers. And with Cathal Shine and Niall Daly edging the midfield battle to date, their attack was getting plenty of ball and orchestrating top-tier movements. A move involving Oates, Connolly and Conor Daly saw Connolly neatly bisecting the uprights and, when Paddy Brogan took off on another typical attacking sortie, Denis Smith completed the movement with a super point on the run (19th minute). This score left Roscommon 0-4 to 0-1 to the good and enjoying a significant percentage of the play. But midfielder Emmet O Conghaile now began to exert his influence with some excellent fielding and, together with a few uncertainties entering the Roscommon rearguard, the tide turned in the sky blues' favour. Hudson (Thomas Davis) took full advantage with a trio of points from play to level proceedings, admittedly against the run of play. But Conor Daly and Donie Smith made the road for Donal Keane to send over a fabulous point at the Park Avenue end, to give Roscommon the lead again. Dubs strike for first goal Now in injury time of the first half, disaster struck Roscommon as their defence failed to deal with an attacking ball. Centre-back John Kelly's punt forward was secured by that man again, Hudson, who drove the ball past Roscommon Tadhg Lowe. Colin Compton sent over a fine Roscommon point. But, despite their tremendous showing for the greater part of that opening half, that last Dublin rally, superbly led by Hudson, left the Leinster champions ahead by 1-5 to 0-6 at Padraig O'Sullivan's short whistle. Roscommon were now playing into the goal on the GAA centre end of O'Connor Park and, boy, did they give it their all when play resumed. Dublin would have replaced their two starting wing-forwards just four minutes in. The young Rossies proceeded to play like a team who were about to take the Clarke Cup back to the west for the second successive year (Galway won the 2011 title). Midfielder Cathal Shine placed Donie Smith for a sensational point one minute in, to be followed four minutes later by the equaliser; a foul on Donal Keane was punished by Donie Smith's resultant free. These were truly glorious times for Dineen's heroic charges. Colin Compton, who had moved successfully to the midfield diamond, placed Cian Connolly for a splendid point with the left in-step. A minute later, the huge Roscommon following was on song when Niall Kilroy made the road for Strokestown's Compton to loft over another super score. A Dublin attack elicited a brilliant catch on the edge of the square by Cathal Shine. Roscommon were ahead by 0-10 to 1-5 just seven minutes into the second half, with a similar margin between the sides eight minutes later, following an exchange of points between Paul Hudson and Donal Keane (0-11 to 1-6). Dublin subs turn tide Alas, from a Roscommon perspective, the tide was about to go out on a hitherto highly impressive appearance on an All -Ireland stage. A raft of substitutes introduced by the Dublin backroom team would reap a rich harvest and bring a renewed impetus to their attacking unit, which, apart from a brief spell before half-time, had been successfully nullified by the Roscommon enterprise. An unanswered 1-6 would, as the clock wound down, be added to the Metropolitan's already flagged 1-6, doubling their tally and taking them safely over the winning line against a tiring Roscommon fifteen. Points from Ciaran Kilkenny, (0-3, 1 free), John Kelly, Gerry Seaver and Harry Dawson and an injury-time Paul Mannion goal finally clinched their second Clarke Cup in three years and their third in all. It is notable that 1-2 of that late total came from second-half replacements, emphasising the strength in depth of the Dublin panel. They needed to utilise this to the full to eventually get over there superlative challenge posed by an excellently drilled Roscommon, who would not have been in the least flattered to have emerged victorious in this game. In the end, however, Dublin dug deep, very deep, to prevail. Scorers - Dublin: Paul Hudson (1-4), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-4, 1 free), Paul Mannion (1-0), Philip Ryan (0-1), John Kelly (0-1), Gerry Seaver (0-1), Harry Dawson (0-1). Roscommon: Donie Smith (0-4, 2 frees), Colin Compton (0-3, 0-1 free), Cian Connolly (0-2), Donal Keane (0-2). Dublin: John Brian Carthy, Michael Concar, Kevin O'Brien (capt.), Sean George, Luke Fletcher, John Kelly, Jack McCaffrey, Emmet " Conghaile, Ciaran Reddin, Daniel Byrne, Gary Sweeney, Mark Schutte, Ciaran Kilkenny, Philip Ryan, Paul Hudson. Subs: Paul Maguire for Schutte (h/t); Gerry Seaver for Byrne (34 mins); Harry Dawson for Ryan (39); Patrick O'Higgins for Reddin (41); Paul Mannion for Hudson (inj., 57). Roscommon: Tadhg Lowe, Ciaran Cafferkey, Cathal Duignan, David Murray, Conor Daly, Paddy Brogan (capt.), Ronan Stack, Cathal Shine, Niall Daly, Scott Oates, Niall Kilroy, Donal Keane, Cian Connolly, Colin Compton, Donie Smith. Subs: John McManus for Keane (inj., 48 mins); Finbar Cregg for Stack (54); Ciaran Murtagh for Connolly (57); Fintan Kelly for Kilroy (58). Referee: Padraig O'Sullivan (Kerry).