Gaelic Games

Dublin and Roscommon to meet in repeat of 2012 under-21 final

Both sides enjoy one-point successes in dramatic semi-final encounters

Dublin’s Cormac Costello celebrates after scoring the winning point from a free during the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final against Cavan at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Dublin’s Cormac Costello celebrates after scoring the winning point from a free during the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final against Cavan at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Sat Apr 19 2014 - 20:44

Dublin and Roscommon will meet in the final of the All-Ireland under-21 football championship for the second time in three years as they both secured one-point victories in Saturday’s semi-final clashes.

A free from senior player Cormac Costello with time almost up saw Dessie Farrell's Dublin side secure a 0-11 to 0-10 win over Ulster champions Cavan in Portloaise.

Cavan led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break against a Dublin side that missed a hatful of chances in the opening period, including Costello and Jack McCaffrey missing great chances to score goals.

Dublin’s Cormac Costello kicks the winning point in the last minute of normal time during the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final against Cavan at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Dublin’s Cormac Costello kicks the winning point in the last minute of normal time during the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final against Cavan at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Dublin’s Cormac Costello kicks the winning point in the last minute of normal time during the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final against Cavan at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Dublin’s Cormac Costello kicks the winning point in the last minute of normal time during the All-Ireland under-21 football semi-final against Cavan at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Dublin kept plugging away and with Cavan scoring just three points in the second half, they kicked the final three points of the game to claim a place in the decider.

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They will meet a Roscommon side that knocked out last year’s beaten finalists Cork on a scoreline of 1-19 to 3-12 thanks to Diarmuid Murtagh’s pointed free with the last kick of the game in Portlaoise.

It gave the corner forward a personal tally of 0-10, with Ultan Hanley scoring the Rossies' goal in the 52 minute.

Roscommon led 0-11 to 0-5 at the break, but Cork fought back with their goals coming from Mark Sugrue, Alan Cadogan and Dan Mac Eoin.

Mac Eoin’s effort came from a 20 metre free and it levelled the scores as they fought back from a six-point deficit.

Cork certainly had the momentum, but in Murtagh Roscommon had the game’s most influential performer and he sealed a final date with the last kick of the game.