Roscommon march on

UNDER-21 FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINALS Roscommon 2-7 Cavan 2-2ROSCOMMON MADE life hard for themselves at Pearse Park, Longford before eventually booking their place in their first under-21 final since 1982.

The Rossies were much the better team in a disappointing encounter but needed a horrendous Cavan error in injury-time to allow Colin Compton seal the deal in front of 7,936 supporters.

Cavan’s Ulster form dramatically nosedived and, apart from a breathtaking brace of goals by Kevin Tierney they were impotent at the business end of the field.

Tierney latched onto a long delivery from Christopher Conroy to blast the ball to the net after just seven minutes.

A sublime point from Joe Dillon added to their momentum.

Roscommon hit back as Cian Connolly and star attacker Donie Smith combined to put Conor Daly through for a vital goal in the 16th minute which drew the sides level.

Cavan got a let-off in the 22nd minute when Smith fired over instead of under the bar.

Niall Kilroy extended Roscommon’s 1-3 to 1-1 interval lead inside the opening minute. But Christopher Conroy point gave Cavan hope. Ciaran Murtagh pointed on the counterattack in the 52nd minute to end a 17-minute barren spell for Roscommon.

Cavan managed to grab a lifeline when Shane Reilly’s pass set up Tierney for a cracking goal just after the hour mark.

But Conor Gilsenan’s fisted pass was intercepted by Compton and he found the net to end Cavan’s hopes.

CAVAN: C Gilsenan; C Moynagh, K Clarke, J McLoughlin; F Flanagan, D Sexton, M Brady; P Leddy, K Brady; J Dillon (0-1), C Conroy (0-1), J Brady: N O'Donnell, K Tierney (2-0), R Lynch. Subs: P King for J McLoughlin, inj (19); PP O'Hara for N O'Donnell (ht); S Reilly for PP O'Hara, inj (40); D McVeety for J Dillon (44).

ROSCOMMON: T Lowe: C Cafferkey, C Duignan, D Murray; C Daly (1-0), P Brogan, R Stack; C Shine, N Daly; S Oates, N Kilroy (0-1), D Keane; C Connolly, C Compton (1-1, one free), D Smith (0-4, one free). Subs: J McManus for S Oates (46); C Murtagh (0-1) for C Connolly (46); F Cregg for C Shine (52); D Clabby for N Kilroy (58).