U21 Football Championship

[GalwayBayBoy]

So, that all puts Mayo into the Connacht U-21 Final, where they will meet the winner of next Saturday's semi final, Sligo v Roscommon.....Big shock to see Galway out.

Indeed!  Since that Galway team were the Connaught Minor Champions 3 years ago!

Won 5 out of the last 6 connacht minor titles. Was a good team on paper. Didn't see the game but I imagine they will be bitterly dissapointed with their performance. I know someone who was there and texted me that they just never got going at all on the day. It happens I guess and unlike the senior grade there are no second chances at that level.

[laoisgaa]

Leinster Under 21 Football Championship
Kildare 1-8
Dublin 1-7
By Cóilín Duffy

A 28th minute goal from midfielder Mark Waters was the decisive score as Kildare booked a place against Carlow in the penultimate stages following their one point win over 14-man Dublin in the Cadbury's Leinster Under 21 football championship at Newbridge.

Dublin made a very positive start to this game as Jim Gavin's charges quickly burst out of the blocks. The visitors looked convincing in the opening quarter and after 23 minutes had built up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead with Shane Ryan sending over his first point of the hour.
The hosts were reliant on the input of full-forward Alan Smith at this stage with the Sarsfields player converting two frees, but the Lillywhites were to hit Dublin hard in the closing five minutes of the opening half.
With Glenn Ryan's charges now in flying form, it was only a matter of time before a goal was produced and in the 28th minute Smullen linked well with Mark Waters, who finished to the net to give the hosts a 1-4 to 0-5 interval lead.

Dublin came out strongly after the break eager to make a positive start to the second half but it wasn't their day and when Diarmuid Connolly kicked his sides fifth wide after three minutes, it started a bad period for the half-forward and Gavin's charges.
Less than two minutes later the talented Vincent's forward was on the sideline, having received a second yellow card from referee Paul Knell following an off the ball incident.

However the hosts came under some strong Dublin pressure over the final quarter, but the visitors were extremely inaccurate in front of the posts and although Kevin Nolan took an injury time goal, Kildare held out for the win.


Kildare scorers: M Waters 1-0; A Smith (3f) 0-4; E Ó Flaitheartaigh (1f), G Smullen, G Whyte (45), M O'Sullivan 0-1 each.
Dublin scorers: K Nolan 1-1; B O'Rorke 0-2, P Andrews 0-2 each; S Ryan, T Furman 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: P Brogan; A Hubbard, T Brady, J Cooper; P McMahon, K Nolan, C Guckian; J McCaffrey, C Sullivan; S Ryan, D Connolly, C Carthy; B O'Rorke, P Andrews, T Furman. Subs: D Kelly for Carthy (22); D Daly for Guckian (HT); M Loftus for McCaffrey (39); E Kirby for Furman (51)

KILDARE: N McConnell; C Brophy, D Brennan, S Murphy; J Browne, G Whyte, T Byrne; M Waters, N Higgins; D Whyte, E Ó Flaitheartaigh, K Kelly; S Fahy, A Smith, G Smullen. Subs: J Fogarty for Higgins (46); M O'Sullivan for Smullen (55); E O'Sullivan for Kelly (56); N Hurley Lynch for Smith (59); N Clinch for G Whyte (61)

REFEREE: Paul Knell (Louth)

[stevo-08]

So, that all puts Mayo into the Connacht U-21 Final, where they will meet the winner of next Saturday's semi final, Sligo v Roscommon.....Big shock to see Galway out.

Indeed!  Since that Galway team were the Connaught Minor Champions 3 years ago!

Won 5 out of the last 6 connacht minor titles. Was a good team on paper. Didn't see the game but I imagine they will be bitterly dissapointed with their performance. I know someone who was there and texted me that they just never got going at all on the day. It happens I guess and unlike the senior grade there are no second chances at that level.

Great result today and have to say that Sligo were full value for the win. Started off brilliantly, totally dominant in midfield and kelly, o'grady & Gaughan doing the damage in the forwards. Indeed gaughan terrorised the galway defence for the first 20mins. Galway made some changes then which kept gaughan quiet thereafter. However with mchugh also impressive and coen & o'grady flawless from the frees, Sligo had alot of options in attack. Trailing 9-3 at one stage in the 1st half, the tribesmen clawed their way back into it with their corner forward (no. 15???) slotting some nice scores from play. Dont think either set of fans were happy with corcoran's performance as ref but im sure the galway lads were happy with him playing 7 additional minutes in first half as they closed the gap to 9-5 at the break.

Galway started the 2nd half brightly and with the aid of a breeze set about eating into the sligo lead. Conroy was moved to midfield & certainly made a difference in that area but overall Sligo were well on top in the middle. They got the difference down to the minimum but at 12-11 down, Galway looked like they might get something from the game but some bad shooting and taking wrong options at crucial times killed their hopes. sligo rallied late on and finished worthy 15-12 winners.

Looking forward to the semi.

[Down Gael]

Derry 1-20 Fermanagh 2-9

[KIDDO 4]

Down v Tyrone 8pm CasementPark Wed March 26th, with Healy Park Omagh the venue for the second semi final Derry v Donegal , also on Wed at 8pm.

[Rossfan]

Interesting result in Tubber right enough. Obviously no fluke when a team scores 15 times.
Sligo with a game under their belts have to be clear favourites to bate us next week 
Interesting times in Leinster too - Carlow/Wexford/Wicklow in the semis along with Kildare.
Is it a one off or are the winds of change blowing across our wealthiest province?

[SLIGONIAN]

Sligo 0-15 Galway 0-12

Sligo Team: 1. J Farrell 2. N Ewing 3. B Murphy 4. N Gaughan 5. D McDonagh 6. M McGowan 7. P Rafferty 8. S Henry 9. S Gilmartin 10. E McHugh 11. P Wilson 12. G Gaughan 13. D Kelly 14. D OGrady 15. S Coen

What a difference a week makes in Sport. Absolutely delighted with a great Sligo performance. This was 15 man performance, Players who stood out were G Gaughan at no 12 roasted his galway marker. He has great pace but needs a more consitent end product. But a great prospect. Should be drafted into the senior setup.

Stephen coen brilliant from frees and linked up well from play and great point taker. D Kelly very sharp and did well got good scores.

O Grady played a little deeper and looks a good footballer. Influetianal player from frees aswell. Eoin mchugh did ok and got great score 1st half. Wilson fought hard but lacks pace.

Our midfield roasted Galway. Gilmartin is a big man great fielder (inspirational) and henry is a hard worker and great passer. Both outstanding and compliment each other very well.

Backs did well, Mcdonagh got great score first half, great over lapping and support play from all Half backs.

Full back line was put under pressure but did well.

Farrell made good save near the end and has a great kick out.

All in All great day for Sligo Football. But dont get TOO carried away this was worst Galway Underage side ive seen for a long time. Sligo were far superior...We played consitently and with great purpose. Very dangerous forward line. The supply was very good into them. WELL DONE LADS...we all needed a boost.

Roscommon up next, I think its in Roscommon next saturday. We have good side and will be hard beat.

[Zulu]

Great result for Sligo but that result cost me a handy few bob. I had Kerry, Derry and Galway in a treble, I thought Galway were a shoo in so when the other two came up I was sure I had the bookies, ahhh well there's always tomorrow. Congratulations to Sligo anyway, it's shaping up to be a very interesting U21 championship with the likes of Sligo, Wexford, Wicklow and Tipperary all still in it.

[jodyb]

Down v Tyrone 8pm CasementPark Wed March 26th, with Healy Park Omagh the venue for the second semi final Derry v Donegal , also on Wed at 8pm.

Sh!t times for any game

[Doire abú]

Especially anyone interested in seeing both games. Surely a double header at the weekend would've made more sense.

[Captain Black]

Any1 see the derry fermanagh game?

[Bogball XV]

Any1 see the derry fermanagh game?

cahair o'kane did - see the club thread

[jodyb]

Good reading Bogball. Sounds like the Tones' faithful aren't so far off. Still a sh!t time for the semis

[cill_dara]

Wexford won today in the leinster semi final beating wicklow by 2 points, They now await the winners of Kildare and Carlow. Final fixed for wexford park afaik.

[Zulu]

Good to see there is some talent coming through the underage scene in Wexford it would be good to see them make the step up in Leinster.