Late Compton goal seals Rossies' passage into U21 national decider

Roscommon bridged a 30-year gap when, for the first time since 1982, they reached the All-Ireland U21 FC final with a five-point victory over Ulster champions Cavan, before an official attendance of 7,936, in last Saturday's semi-final at sunny but chilly Pearse Park. The Breffni Blues - after a splendid provincial campaign in which they put Armagh, Derry and Tyrone to the sword en route to retaining the Irish News Cup - brought a huge crowd to the pristine Longford venue, outnumbering the Roscommon faithful by at least 4 to 1. However, despite Cavan taking an early lead thanks to an eighth-minute Kevin Tierney goal, the resilient Rossies struck back eight minutes later with a stunning Conor Daly strike to level the contest, thereby setting the scene for a display brimful of courage and ability. Roscommon gradually nullified the Cavan challenge and set up an All-Ireland final showdown with Dublin on Sunday week, May 6. There was a late scare on 60 minutes when Tierney's second goal made it a one-point game but, in injury-time, following an error by Blues 'keeper Conor Gilsenan, an alert Colin Compton clinically found the net. Donal Smith's late pointed free left the final margin a clear-cut, if perhaps flattering, five points. Accordingly, a recent losing streak for Roscommon at this venue was ended in the best possible manner. The anticipated Breffni blitzkrieg was stopped in its tracks as Nigel Dineen's men succeeded in stifling the known strong points of the Ulster side, whilst creating sufficient opportunities themselves to force a final confrontation with Dublin, and possibly sweet revenge for that disappointing 2010 semi-final reverse against the sky blues. Roscommon had an almost identical CV as their opponents entering this All-Ireland semi-final, with provincial U21 titles in 2010 and 2012 and a minor crown in 2011, with Cavan emerging U21 champions in 2011 and 2012, with U18 honours in 2011. Thus, it was a modern day battle of the titans between counties who contested the All-Ireland SF final 69 years ago in 1943, when Roscommon took the first of their national titles. Pre-match changes Cavan almost completely reorganised their defence from that listed on the programme with only goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan and left half-back Michael Brady holding their positions, while Roscommon started Cathal Shine (midfield) and Donal Keane (left half-forward) instead of Fintan Kelly and Finbar Cregg respectively. A pointed free by Roscommon's Colin Compton (foul on Niall Kilroy) opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but direct ball to their wind-assisted attack soon paid handsome dividends for the Breffni men, as Chris Conroy's brilliant final pass was dispatched with aplomb to the net by predatorial full-forward Kevin Tierney. That eight minute strike was followed three minutes later by Joe Dillon's point (from 45 metres) following good work by centre-back Dara Sexton. Roscommon goalie Tadhg Lowe brought off a fine save from Dillon minutes later, and Cavan had claims for a penalty turned down in this period of ascendancy. The pendulum, however, was about to swing decisively in Roscommon's favour entering the second quarter as Terry Hyland's charges would lose their way and fail to score again in the first half. 'No through road' signs appeared around the Roscommon's half-back line in the collective visages of Conor Daly, Paddy Brogan and the outstanding Ronan Stack, as that early Cavan whirlwind abated. And Nigel Dineen's men stormed back to parity on the scoreboard with a brilliant goal. It was a case of 'I've started so I'll finish' as wing-back Conor Daly initiated and ended the move; the ball coming to Cian Connolly and Donal Smith, who offloaded to the on-rushing Daly, and the Padraig Pearses player sidefooted to the Cavan net for the equaliser. Smith was then unlucky to see his shot come back off the post but Cathal Shine, a powerful presence at midfield, set up another attack, which led to Smith giving Roscommon the lead (22nd minute). The same player pointed a 25th-minute free and although Cavan, mainly through the efforts of Killian Brady (listed at full-back but operating at midfield) strove manfully to engineer a score, Roscommon were ahead 1-3 to 1-1 at half-time, with wind advantage to come. Scores were at a minimum in that opening moiety, but there were early second-half indications of an improvement in this regard. Cian Connolly made the road for the Niall Kilroy one minute in, while, in a delightful cameo, Donal Smith sent two players going the wrong way as he sniped a lovely point from play. Cavan, who hadn't scored since the 11th minute, broke a 26-minute famine period when Chris Conroy finally gave their massive support something to shout about by sending over a sweet point. It would, alas from their point of view, take another 23 minutes for them to score again. Despite having the edge in general play - though losing the midfield battle to the strong Roscommon duo of Cathal Shine and Niall Daly - the blues failed totally to make any impression on a now almost totally ascendant Roscommon rearguard where no discernable weakness could be seen. Cavan also had a few poor wides (six in all for the second half), as brilliant interceptions by Cathal Duignan and Ronan Stack, and a superlative save by goalie Tadhg Lowe from corner-forward Raymond Lynch, deprived them of certain scores. Roscommon also found scores elusive commodities as 18 minutes elapsed before substitute Ciaran Murtagh raised a flag with a 52nd-minute point. With the Connacht champions holding a four-point lead and the Cavan supporters leaving the ground as normal time ended, a Lazarus-like recovery briefly looked on the cards for the Breffni side. Substitute Shane Reilly sent the ball to Kevin Tierney who beat the Roscommon rearguard and blasted home his second goal to cut arrears to the minimum. Cavan strove for an equaliser but, in injury-time, the Cavan goalie lost possession after coming off his line, with Colin Compton reacting like a flash to sent the ball to an empty net. To put the cherry on top of the cake, a foul on Shine saw Smith add a pointed free, and Roscommon were All-Ireland final bound. Roscommon: Tadhg Lowe; Ciaran Cafferkey, Cathal Duignan, David Murray; Conor Daly (1-0), Paddy Brogan (capt.), Ronan Stack; Cathal Shine, Niall Daly; Scott Oates, Niall Kilroy (0-1), Donal Keane; Cian Connolly, Colin Compton, (1-1, 0-1f), Donal Smith (0-4, 2f). Subs: John McManus for Oates (46), Ciaran Murtagh (0-1) for Connolly (46), Finbar Cregg for Keane (52), Darren Clabby for Kilroy (59). Cavan: Conor Gilsenan; Jason McLoughlin, Killian Clarke, Conor Moynagh; Fergal Flanagan, Dara Sexton, Michael Brady (capt.); Packie Leddy, Killian Brady; Joe Dillon (0-1), Nevin O'Donnell, Christopher Conroy (0-1); Jack Brady, Kevin Tierney (2-0), Raymond Lynch. Subs: Patrick King for McLoughlin (inj., 26), P.P. O'Hara for O'Donnell (h-t), Shane Reilly for O'Hara (41), Dara McVeety for Dillon (46). Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).