By Declan Rooney
Roscommon 0-12 Tyrone 0-17
Tyrone are through to their first All-Ireland U-21 final since 2003 after they defeated Roscommon by five points at a sun-kissed Markievicz Park.
Corner-forward Lee Brennan was the star for the Ulster champions and he kicked six points, five from play on a day when they judged the elements better.
Against the wind in the first-half they went in leading 0-10 to 0-07 at the break and with full-back Padraig Hampsey to the fore in the second-half and Cathal McShane a tower in midfield they advanced to play Tipperary.
There were warning signs for Roscommon from the off, Brennan’s pace and trickery got him his first of the day within the opening minute.
Tyrone went on to score the first four scores with McShane, Brennan and Michael Cassidy raising white flags.
The Connacht representatives were rattled but kept their composure and Diarmuid Murtagh kicked their first score from a free in the tenth minute.
By the time he slotted his second free the score was back to 0-06 to 0-04 in favour of the northerners with 18 minutes played.
The teams went score for score for the remainder of the half with Daniel McNulty’s free in the 31st minute ensuring Tyrone held a 0-10 to 0-07 advantage at half-time.
Once again Brennan got the scoreboard ticking at the start of the second-half with Murtagh replying for the Rossies.
Substitute Thomas Corcoran then stepped up to send over a ‘45 into the heart of the breeze as Roscommon now trailed by just two.
But gradually desperation began to set into their ranks and still in arrears they decided the best option was to try route one ball.
Hampsey lapped up the possession and with McNulty and Brennan prolific up the other end there was no way through for Roscommon.
They never led in the game and despite Murtagh bringing it back to 0-14 to 0-12 with his sixth point of the day in the 54th minute they couldn’t get any closer.
McNulty and Ronan Daly saw yellow as tempers frayed but points from Frank Burns, Brennan and McNulty ensured Tyrone reached the decider.
Tyrone: S Fox; R Mullan, P Hampsey, M Cassidy (0-01); C McLaughlin, R Brennan, K McGeary; F Burns (0-01), C McShane (0-03); C Meyler, M Kavanagh (0-02), M Walsh; L Brennan (0-06, 0-01f), D McNulty (0-04, 0-03f), R McGlone.
Subs used: S McKenna for McGlone (41), M Bradley for Kavanagh (45), P McKenna for Walsh (57), D Kavanagh for Brennan (61)
Roscommon: S Mannion; N McInerney, S Mullooly, D Barron; C Kenny, E McGrath, R Daly (0-01, 0-01f); C Compton (0-03), T O’Rourke; S Killoran, U Harney, C Kilcline; D Murtagh (0-06, 0-04f), E Smith, P Kenny.
Subs used: N Kelly for Mannion (29), T Corcoran (0-01, 0-01 ‘45) for O’Rourke (33), J Earley (0-01) for Kilcline (ht), N Gately for P Kenny (41)
Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry).
