Tyrone 0-17
Roscommon 0-12
TYRONE SHOCKED ROSCOMMON to book their return to the All-Ireland U21 Football final for the first time in 12 years.
Lee Brennan led the way with six points as the Red Hand raced into an early lead in Markievicz Park and never looked back.
Munster champions Tipperary await in the decider on 2 May after they stunned holders Dublin in Tullamore earlier on Saturday.
Roscommon came into the game as favourites but last year’s beaten finalists were slow to start and conceded four points without reply in the opening seven minutes, Brennan getting two of them.
With Rossies danger man Enda Smith shackled by man of the match Padraig Hampsey, the Connacht men relied on Diarmuid Murtagh to keep them in touch, and his third point of the first half got them back to within a point, 0-8 to 0-7.
But a point from the lively Brennan and a free from Daniel McNulty stretched Tyrone’s lead to three at the break, 0-10 to 0-7.
Two apiece from Brennan and McNulty kept the scoreboard ticking over for Tyrone in the second half but Roscommon threatened a late comeback when sub Jack Earley and Murtagh pointed in quick succession to make it 0-14 to 0-12 with five minutes to play.
Tyrone finished the stronger though with midfielder Francis Burns, Brennan and McNulty all pointing to secure a famous win.
Scorers for Tyrone: Lee Brennan 0-6 (1f), Daniel McNulty 0-4 (3f), Cathal McShane 0-3, Mark Kavanagh 0-2, Michael Cassidy, Francis Burns 0-1 each.
Scorers for Roscommon: Diarmuid Murtagh 0-6 (4f), Cathal Compton 0-3, Ronan Daly (1f), Thomas Corcoran, Jack Earley 0-1 each.
Roscommon
1. Shane Mannion (St Brigid’s)
2. Niall McInerney (St Brigid’s)
3. Sean Mullooly (Strokestown)
4. Denis Barron (Eire Óg)
19. Evan McGrath (Boyle)
6. Cathal Kenny (Oran)
7. Ronan Daly (Pádraig Pearses)
8. Cathal Compton (Strokestown)
9. Tadhg O’Rourke (Tulsk Lord Edwards)
10. Shane Killoran (Elphin)
11. Ultan Harney (Clann na nGael)
22. Kieran Kilcline (Roscommon Gaels)
13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleach’s)
14. Enda Smith (Boyle)
15. Paul Kenny (Oran)
Substitutes:
16. Nigel Kelly for Mannion (29)
12. Jack Earley for Kilcline (H/T)
20. Thomas Corcoran for O’Rourke (33)
24. Noel Gately for P Kenny (40)
21. Kevin Finn for Compton (59)
18. David Neary for C Kenny (60)
Tyrone
1. Sean Fox (Killyclogher)
2. Ruairi Mullan (Cookstown)
3. Padraig Hampsey (Coalisland)
4. Michael Cassidy (Ardboe)
5. Ciaran McLaughlin (Omagh)
6. Rory Brennan (Trillick)
7. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy)
8. Francis Burns (Pomeroy)
9. Cathal McShane (Owen Roe)
10. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
11. Mark Kavanagh (Errigal Ciaran)
12. Matthew Walsh (Dungannon)
13. Lee Brennan (Trillick)
14. Daniel McNulty (Clonoe)
15. Ruairi McGlone (Aghaloo)
Substitutes:
20. Sean McKenna for McGlone (41)
23. Mark Bradley for Kavanagh (45)
21. Peter McKenna for Walsh (57)
Darragh Kavanagh for Brennan (60+1)
