Six of the best from Brennan books final date for Red Hands
LEE BRENNAN and Cathal McShane kicked 10 points between them as Tyrone set up an All-Ireland Under 21 final date with Tipperary in a fortnight’s time. Tryone never trailed after Brennan kicked the Red Hands ahead in the first minute as Roscommon failed to cope with their intense tackling and ability to kick long-range points.
It only took Brennan 15 seconds to register his first score, a fine point on the turn, but Fergal Logan’s side continued with their high-tempo start and the excellent McShane tapped over form close range to double the lead in the fourth minute.
But cheered on by a sizeable Roscommon crowd, the Connacht champions soon found their feet in the contest.
Diarmuid Murtagh was rumoured to be an injury worry ahead of throw-in, but he showed no signs of any complaint when he kicked a free from almost 45 metres to get Roscommon off the mark in the 10th minute.
Cathal Compton caught the eye when he landed two brilliant points in the 12th minute – a 0-6 to 0-3 lead was the least that Tyrone deserved at the end of the first quarter – but Mark Dowd’s side accounted for three of the next four points to put the minimum between the sides.
McShane was Tyrone’s key operator as he roamed between midfield and the two half lines and he edged the Ulster champions further ahead five minutes from the break with a long-range point – his third of the game.
Murtagh – one of nine survivors from last year’s All-Ireland final appearance for Roscommon – steadied his side with a brilliant score from the left in the 27th minute, but Tyrone powered into the interval with points form Brennan and a Daniel McNulty free to make it 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.
Brennan was quick to get his side off the mark in the opening half, but he was even quicker in the second when he kicked a similar point 13 seconds after the throw in.
A couple of scores from dead balls kept Roscommon in touch but Brennan extended the Tyrone advantage, 0-12 to 0-9, with an impressive score.
But there was still a kick in Roscommon and they refused to go down without a fight, closing to within two points with six minutes remaining. Tyrone refused to panic, however, and McShane kicked the insurance score in the final minute to seal Tyrone’s progress. TyRone: S Fox; R Mullan, P Hampsey, M Cassidy; C McLaughlin, R Brennan, K McGeary; F Burns, C McShane; C Meyler, M Kavanagh (M Bradley 45), M Walsh (P McKenna 57); L Brennan (D Kavanagh 60), D McNulty, R McGlone (S McKenna 40). Scorers: L Brennan (1f) 0-6, D McNulty (3f), C McShane 0-4, M Kavanagh 0-2, M Cassidy 0-1. RoSCoMMon: S Mannion (N Kelly 29); N McInerney, S Mullooly, D Barron; C Kenny (D Neary 60), E McGrath, R Daly; C Compton (K Finn 59), T O’Rourke (T Corcoran 30); S Killoran, U Harney, C Kilcline (J Earley ht); D Murtagh, E Smith, P Kenny (N Gately 40). Scorers: D Murtagh 0-6 (4f), C Compton 0-3, R Daly (1f), T Corcoran (1 45), J Earley 0-1. Referee: P O’Sullivan (Kerry).