A BRIDGE TOO FARR

Dubs just too good for Tribesmen on Dessie’s farewell

DESSIE FARRELL signed off on with Dublin football and described his All-ireland winning under-21s as the “hardest-working” group he’s known.

After five years with the under-21s, which followed on from his involvement the minor team and development squads, Farrell confirmed he would not be in charge when the grade changes to under-20 next year.

And he reiterated that he doesn’t see himself stepping up to the senior job whenever Jim Gavin departs.

Saturday’s win over Galway in front of 7,557 in Tullamore secured Dublin’s fifth All-ireland under-21 title, all of them coming since 2003.

“I think it’s a wonderful competition,” said Farrell (left). “I fell in love with it many years ago and even though we won’t be involved we will sorely miss it.

“I think you’ll see something similar in the under-20. The physical shape a lot of lads coming out of minor now, I don’t think we’re going to lose a lot.”

Dublin were comfortably the better team but struggled to reflect it on the scoreboard for much of the game as they held just a 0-5 to 0-4 half-time lead with Aaron Byrne and Colm Basquel both denied goals by Galway ‘keeper Ronan O Beolain.

With Brian Howard on top at midfield, an early second half surge effectively finished Galway as Dublin hit 1-4 without reply, Con O’callaghan scoring the goal.

Their lead peaked at eight points but Galway halved it with the help of a Cillian Mcdaid goal and Dublin had a let-off when Ruairi Greene hit the butt of the post with four minutes left.

Galway sub Antaine O Laoi missed a routine free seconds later and from the kickout Basquel fed Byrne to hit Dublin’s second goal and kill the contest.

Colm Brennan scrambled another goal for Galway in injury time but it was little more than a consolation, although there was still time for O’callaghan to take a point from a penalty.

Ominously, the flow of talent in the capital continues, with this their fourth under-21 title in eight seasons.

Farrell reflected: “They’re probably not the most talented team to put on a blue jersey and they won’t mind me saying that but without a shadow of a doubt they’re the hardest-working bunch that I’ve ever been involved with.

“I think we worked hard in creating the culture around them this year, that they could thrive and prosper as players and as people as well, which is important to us.

“They embraced that with open arms. They were phenomenal.”

IN SAFE HANDS Con O’callaghan and Cillian O’shea hold trophy aloft and, right, man of the match Brian Howard clings to the ball