In keeping with the times, Dublin have the final word against Galway

Dublin 2-13 Galway 2-7: On the surface, it will be dismissed as just another example of Dublin’s might, a fourth All-Ireland U21 title since 2010 and the second on Dessie Farrell’s watch.

The famous Blue Wave strategic plan had set out the goal of winning an All-Ireland at this level every five years. What has been achieved this decade suggests that aspiration wasn’t aspirational enough.

But this Dublin team weren’t expected to go all the way. If anything, they were the less fancied of the five teams Farrell has entered into the competition. Indeed, only two from the current group are involved in the senior set-up. Comparisons with the 2010, ’12 and ’14 teams, many of whom have blossomed into marvellous senior footballers, are redundant.