Roscommon joint captains Cathal Compton and Tadhg O'Rourke celebrate with the JJ Fahy cup after beating Galway in the EirGrid Connacht U21 FC final at Tuam Stadium last Saturday. Picture: Ray Ryan.

Ros u21s to face tyrone as seniors prepare for croker clash

Connacht U21 football champions Roscommon will face Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-finals on Saturday week, April 18.

The Red Hand County edged out Donegal on a 1-11 to 0-13 scoreline in the Ulster final at Celtic Park last night (Wednesday). Dan McNulty converted an injury-time free to secure victory for Tyrone. Conor Meyler scored the only goal of the game as Tyrone won their 12th Ulster title at this grade, with Donegal losing out in the final for the third year in a row.

Roscommon defeated Galway in a thrilling Connacht decider at Tuam Stadium last Saturday (see report in this week's Westmeath Independent).

At the time of writing, the venue and starting time for the Roscommon v Tyrone clash has yet to be confirmed.

In the other semi-final, Leinster and All-Ireland champions Dublin will face either Cork or Tipperary, who lock horns in the Munster final tonight (Thursday) at Semple Stadium (throw-in: 7.30).

These are exciting times for Roscommon football, with the county’s senior team having clinched promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League thanks to their decisive win over Westmeath at Cusack Park last Sunday (see report in this week's Westmeath Independent).

While the victory secured promotion for Roscommon, it also consigned Westmeath to relegation to Division 3.

Roscommon will face Down in the Division 2 decider on Sunday, April 26 at Croke Park. It will be followed by the Division 1 final – the Division 1 finalists will be decided when the semi-finals take place in Croke Park this Sunday.

The Rossies defeated Down at Páirc Esler, Newry during their divisional campaign and if they can repeat the dose at GAA headquarters, they will be crowned Division 2 league champions.

Fixture details have been confirmed for all four Allianz Football League finals, which will take place at Croke Park on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26.

The Division 1 final, between the winners of Cork/Donegal and Dublin/Monaghan, will take place at 4pm on Sunday, April 26 and will be televised live on TG4. It will be preceded by the Division 2 final between Down and Roscommon at 2pm, which will also be live on TG4.

The Division 3 and 4 finals will take place the day before at Croke Park, with Longford meeting Offaly in the Division 4 final at 5.15pm, ahead of the Division 3 final between Armagh and Fermanagh at 7.15pm.

Allianz Football League Finals

 

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

Allianz Football League Division 4 Final

Longford v Offaly, Croke Park, 5.15pm (Live on TG4)

Allianz Football League Division 3 Final

Armagh v Fermanagh, Croke Park, 7.15pm (Live on TG4)

 

SUNDAY, APRIL 26

Allianz Football League Division 2 Final

Down v Roscommon, Croke Park, 2pm (Live on TG4)

Allianz Football League Division 1 Final

Cork/Donegal v Dublin/Monaghan, Croke Park, 4pm (Live on TG4)