Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Blues cruise to title glory
Blues juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down
CON O’CALLAGHAN smashed 1-3 in Tullamore as Dublin were crowned the modern masters of the EirGrid All-Ireland under-21 title.
Dessie Farrell’s (right) Dubs have now claimed five titles at the grade this century, the most of any county.
And they will be the last name ever on the cup as the competition will be replaced with a new under-20 grade.
Dublin were worthy winners and scored 1-4 without reply early in the second-half to put themselves in the clear.
Aaron Byrne also netted while Man of the Match Darren Gavin, Brian Howard and Dan O’Brien were excellent.
Farrell has now claimed two under-21 titles in his five year reign but insisted he has no designs on replacing Jim Gavin when he vacates the senior role.
Farrell said: “I don’t think so. My roots have been in the development squad stuff through to minor. The natural evolution then was to take on the
21s. The seniors is a whole different ball game. The time commitment that’s required at senior level is huge.
“Like, this is ridiculous but at senior level it’s gone to a whole new level. I’ve great admiration for the men that take on that role in any county but for where I am in my own career I can’t see it.”
Dublin led by just a point at the break, 0-5 to 0-4, despite playing with a stiff wind.
Colm Basquel hit back to back points in the 15th and 19th minutes to open up a 0-4 to 0-1 ahead. But the Dubs didn’t take full advantage of the wind at their backs and supporters in the 7,557 crowd wondered if it would prove costly.
Senior star O’Callaghan had a thrilling duel with full-back Sean Andy O Ceallaigh.
The Galway defender made a great catch over O’Callaghan’s head and drove out of defence to set up a 22nd minute Cillian McDaid point that left Galway just 0-4 to 0-3 down.
Dublin’s Glenn O’Reilly and Galway midfielder Peter Cooke traded a point apiece before the break to leave the minimum in it.
But Dublin needn’t have been concerned about keeping Galway in the game as they effectively sealed the win after the restart with 1-4 without reply.
O’Reilly, sub Darren Gavin and O’Brien pointed before O’Callaghan netted in the 35th minute.
Howard set the move up with a great ‘mark’ at midfield and Byrne eventually played in O’Callaghan to palm home.
Howard was Man of the Match in the semi-final win over Donegal and added a 45th minute point to leave Dublin eight clear 1-10 to 0-5 ahead.
Galway rallied briefly and cut the eight-point deficit to four thanks partly to a 50th minute Cillian McDaid goal.
And Ruairi Greene smashed a shot off the Dublin post that would have left just one it.
But Byrne’s 57th mintue goal for Dublin put them seven up again.
There was drama late on as Colm Brennan pulled back a consolation Galway goal and O’Callaghan took a point from a penalty with the last kick.