All-Ireland U21FC semi-final: Rossies edge out Cavan

April 21, 2012

Roscommon's Cathal Shine comes under pressure from Cavan duo Christopher Conroy and Jack Brady during the Cadbury All-Ireland U21FC semi-final at Portlaoise ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Roscommon claimed a 2-7 to 2-2 victory over Cavan in a low-scoring Cadbury All-Ireland U21FC semi-final affair at Longford.

The winners will take on Dublin in the 2012 All-Ireland U21 football championship final. But new Cavan senior boss Terry Hyland will be bitterly disappointed that his team could only manage four scores over the hour as they fell at the penultimate hurdle, having lost the final to Connacht opposition last year as well.

Colin Compton floated over the opening score with a free for the Rossies after five minutes but Cavan got a timely early boost when full forward Kevin Tierney plundered a goal, firing to the roof of the net off the bottom of the crossbar on nine minutes.

Joe Dillon added a point for the Ulster champions but the Connacht kingpins replied in style with a Conor Daly goal, rolling the ball excellently to the bottom corner of the net at the start of the second quarter.

The Rossies were soon back in front through Donie Smith (2; one from a free and one from play) and Nigel Dineen's men were delighted to take a two-point interval advantage, 1-3 to 1-1, despite having played against the breeze in the first half.

Dual star Niall Kilroy pointed for the winners within seconds of the restart and Smith showed wonderful composure to make it 1-5 to 1-1 after 35 minutes. Christopher Conroy replied and Rossies goalkeeper Tadgh Lowe made an amazing save to deny Raymond Lynch a Cavan goal.

Substitute Ciaran Murtagh added to the winning tally but Tierney set up a thrilling finish when he drilled a last-minute shot to the top corner of the net - 2-2 to 1-6.

However, in the first minute of added time, an error by Cavan goalkeeper Conor Gilsenan presented Compton with the clinching goal, which he dropped into an empty net. Smith tagged on the last score from a free in the third added minute.

Roscommon - T Lowe: C Cafferkey, C Duignan, D Murray; C Daly (1-0), P Brogan, R Stack; C Shine, N Daly; S Oates, N Kilroy (0-1), D Keane; C Connolly, C Compton (1-1), D Smith (0-4). Subs - J McManus for S Oates, C Murtagh (0-1) for C Connolly, F Cregg for C Shine, D Clabby for N Kilroy.

Cavan - C Gilsenan; C Moynagh, K Clarke, J McLoughlin; F Flanagan, D Sexton, M Brady; P Leddy, K Brady; J Dillon (0-1), C Conroy (0-1), J Brady: N O'Donnell, K Tierney (2-0), R Lynch. Subs: P King for J McLoughlin, PP O'Hara for N O'Donnell, S Reilly for PP O'Hara, D McVeety for J Dillon.

Ref - C Reilly (Meath)

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