Dublin 3-7
Longford 0-6
DUBLIN MISSED A raft of opportunities but two goals in the space of two minutes inside the opening quarter from Paul Mannion established an advantage that ensured victory in the Leinster U21FC semi-final at O’Moore Park tonight.
Mannion found the net with left-footed strikes in the 10th and 12th minutes, profiting from good work by Conor McHugh on both occasions.
Those contributions helped Dessie Farrell’s men into an early eight-point lead before Patrick Kiernan opened the scoring for Longford, who were managed by Farrell’s former Dublin colleague, Jack Sheedy.
Robbie Smyth landed two frees as Longford gained a greater foothold in proceedings and a brilliant point by captain, Barry McKeon just the interval left it 2-4 to 0-4.
The wind did cause difficulties for both teams but Dublin were very wasteful, with Mannion and Cormac Costello missing chances of adding to their goal tally.
Substitute Emmet Ó Conghaile finally removed any doubt about the verdict with a goal five minutes from time but while senior boss, Jim Gavin will have been delighted by the form of Mannion in the first half, the sight of Costello being carried off late on will have concerned him.
The Whitehall Colmcilles clubman had an outstanding game, contributing three points from play, and with Jack McCaffrey and Eric Lowndes also eye-catching, Dublin ultimately had too much for their gritty opponents.
Scorers for Dublin: Paul Mannion 2-1; Cormac Costello 0-4 (0-1f); Emmet Ó Conghaile 1-0; Eric Lowndes, Conor McHugh 0-1 each. Scorers for Longford: Robbie Smyth 0-4 (0-4f); Patrick Kiernan, Barry McKeon 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: Lorcan Molloy (St Anne’s), Ross McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes), David Byrne (Naomh Olaf), Robert McDaid (Ballyboden St Enda’s), John Small (Ballymun Kickhams), Stephen Cunningham (St Sylvester’s), Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf), Shane Carthy (Naomh Mearnóg), Patrick O’Higgins (Raheny), Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street), Eric Lowndes (St Peregrines), Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille), Conor McHugh (Na Fianna), Michael Deegan (Donaghmore Ashbourne), Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes).
Subs: Shane Cunningham for Deegan (34), Emmet Ó Conghaile for Small (47), Niall Walsh for McHugh (59), Gavin Ivory for Costello inj (60).
LONGFORD: Garret Higgins (Carraig Eamonn), Cian Farrelly (Emmet Óg), Andrew Farrell (Caiseal), Barry O’Farrell (Carraig Eamonn), Conor Shields (Cluain Gheis), Stephen McLoughlin (Cluain Gheis), Shane Clarke (Emmet Óg), Barry McKeon (Colm Cille), James McGivney (Naomh Columba), Andrew Dalton (Flipeadóirí Longfoirt), Robbie Smyth (Mainistir Leathrátha), Liam Connerton (Rath Chlaoin), Emmet Noonan (Gail An Athar Uí Mhainnín), Patrick Kiernan (Emmet Óg), Rory Connor (Caonach).
Subs: Mattie Gorman (Baile Mhóir) for Clarke (18), Daniel Mimnagh (Emmet Óg) for Noonan (44), Ross McNerne for McLoughlin (47)
Referee: Niall Ward (Westmeath)