Smith goal steers Roscommon into Connacht U21 final

For 50 minutes of this absorbing Connacht U21 FC semi-final on Wednesday night of last week, it's outcome was balanced on a knife-edge. The tension was almost palpable among the close on 2,000 fans under the Kiltoom floodlights, as both sides fought an end to end battle for the final berth on offer. Come the 50th minute, with the scores deadlocked at 0-8 each, extra-time became a real possibility on a chilly but dry night at the magnificent Newpark venue. It was then, however, that Nigel Dineen's heroes - none more so than the outstanding Donal Smith up front - showed real character to deliver the coup-de-grace to a Mayo team who, exactly a week earlier, had put reigning All-Ireland champions Galway to the sword. A foul on Finbarr Cregg was punished by the accurate boot of eventual Man of the Match Smith, while minutes later super-sub Scott Oates slotted over a fine point. It was the ideal overture to the score of the night when just introduced sub Ciaran Murtagh floated a sublime ball from the stand side goalwards to the lurking Smith, and the Boyle sharpshooter gave Mayo 'keeper Paul Mannion no chance to complete seven minutes of sheer magic. Two second half replacements, Oates and Murtagh, combined for the latter to bisect the uprights, thereby realising an unanswered 1-3 and with it a six-point advantage. There was no way back for Mayo - they did have the final say with two pointed frees - but the Primrose and Blue had by now secured their final berth against Sligo on Saturday, April 7. Ray Dempsey's Mayo had come to Kiltoom complete with the prized scalp of current All-Ireland champions Galway, whom they had sent tumbling out of championship the previous Wednesday night at McHale Park, after extra time, on a 1-14 to 0-15 scoreline. Though not with its element of good fortune, due to Galway's wayward shooting, that vital match-practice against a Roscommon side making its current championship debut could be regarded as a huge plus in Mayo's favour. Roscommon clearly had other ideas, as events rapidly unfolded. Showing scant regard to a side who have secured provincial honours on 23 occasions, the young Rossies started with aplomb, and were ahead after just 70 seconds when Niall Kilroy posted a superb opening point. Colin Compton's slick effort increased the lead on two minutes, but a sweetly struck '45' from Aidan Walsh, closely followed by an Evan Regan point, had the Mayo side on terms on five minutes. At this early stage, the signs were indicating a thriller unfolding, and the crowd would not be disappointed. Nigel Dineen, with management colleagues David Casey, Basil Mannion, Denis Clavin and Eddie Lohan, had their charges in optimum nick for this semi-final. A brace of points, courtesy of Donal Smith (free) and Cian Connolly restored their lead. The impressive Conor O'Shea and Donal Shine (free) exchanged points, before a brace of Mayo pointed frees (per Evan Regan and Cillian O'Connor) had the protagonists level again on 23 minutes. Ballintubber scoring ace O'Connor (he registered nine points against Galway) was getting little change from immediate opponent Paddy Brogan. But his threat was evident (24th minute) when goalie Naos Connaughton made a good save, but then lost possession out near the sideline when attempting to clear downfield. Like a flash, O'Connor grabbed the loose ball and slipped it inside to the unmarked Brendan Harrison, but a brilliant block on the line by midfielder Fintan Kelly prevented a certain goal. This signalled a brief Mayo ascendancy in the guise of another brace of points by Cillian O'Connor (free) and Conor O'Shea. But Niall Daly ended the half on a positive note for Roscommon when landing a spectacular point to leave Mayo ahead at the break by the minimum margin 0-7 to 0-6. The highly effective Scott Oates was introduced at the interval, and it didn't take long for the home team to make another firm statement of ultimate intent. Roscommon restored their earlier lead with two terrific points. Daly placed Donal Smith (33rd minute), with Finbarr Cregg adding another three minutes later. The Mayo attack were getting short shrift from a now dominant Roscommon rearguard, where Cathal Duignan, Paddy Brogan and Ciaran Cafferkey were seen to particular effect. Ronan Stack, Conor Daly, David Murray and goalkeeper Naos Connaughton completed a unit that restricted the much vaunted Mayo attack to a solitary point from play in the second moiety. That 44th-minute point from Mayo's best forward, Conor O'Shea, levelled the match for the fourth time, and while a profligate spell - in which their attack shot five wides - was a source of concern to Roscommon, that late scoring bonanza ultimately assured a highly meritorious victory. The result saw Roscommon reach their third successive Connacht final, continuing the gradual eroding of the traditional Galway/Mayo axis. Many aspects of Wednesday's semi-final bestowed plaudits on the Roscommon squad. They refused to be intimidated by the reputation of their Mayo opponents and succeeded in curbing the effectiveness of known match-winner Cillian O'Connor, restricting the Ballintuber clubman to just three points from frees. The spread of scorers - with no less than eight getting on the board - provided further encouragement. Of particular importance too, is a strong overall panel, clearly illustrated by the fact that both Scott Oates and Ciaran Murtagh scored when introduced, while the return of Cathal Shine is a major boost, with young John McManus also impressing when introduced. Niall Daly worked hard at midfield, with Fintan Kelly, though later substituted, gaining plaudits for that excellent goal-line clearance in the first half. Roscommon: Naos Connaughton, Ronan Stack, Cathal Duignan, David Murray, Conor Daly, Paddy Brogan (capt.), Ciaran Cafferkey, Fintan Kelly, Niall Daly (0-1), Finbarr Cregg (0-1), Niall Kilroy (0-1), Darren Clabby, Cian Connolly (0-1), Colin Compton (0-1) and Donal Smith (1-4, 0-3 frees). Subs: Scott Oates (0-1) for Clabby (h/t), Cathal Shine and Kelly (41), John McManus for Connolly (41), Ciaran Murtagh (0-1) for Cregg (51). Mayo: Paul Mannion, Michael Walsh, Niall Freeman, David Gavin, Caolan Crowe, Shane McDermott, Micheal Forde, Aidan Walsh (0-1 '45'), Danny Geraghty (capt.), Andrew Farrell, Cillian O'Connor (0-3, 3f), Brendan Harrison, Evan Regan (0-2, 1f), Darren Coen and Conor O'Shea (0-3). Subs: James Shaughnessy (0-1f) for Harrison (36), Danny Kirby for Farrell (43), Conor Walsh for Coen (51), Austin O'Toole for Regan (58). Referee: Ray McBrien (Leitrim).