Lyons' cubs roar into U21 final

Dublin 1-13, Tyrone 1-09 (result)

Tommy Lyons' cubs roared fearlessly into the All-Ireland Under-21 final at Cavan, where their power and teamwork proved too hot for the outclassed defending champions.

A superb midfield display from Darren Magee and incisive attacking from Tomas Quinn and Conal Keaney, who hit a combined total of 10 points, saw Tyrone tamely relinquish their title at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Dublin had all the power, the poise and the punch which knocked the champions cold before a crowd of 5,000.

Tommy Lyons' side struck gold as early as the sixth minute, when Graham Cullen rose high to win Alan Brogan's cross from the left, and his quick transfer to Declan Lally was blasted to the roof of the net from close range.

The defending champions depended largely on Owen Mulligan to keep them in touch from frees, although John McGuckin, a late replacement for the injured Ciaran Carland, did hit a fine point.

But with Darren Magee and Seamus Walsh getting the better of Tyrone's highly rated pairing of Peter Donnelly and Sean Cavanagh, it was the Dubs who looked the more potent attacking force.

Hurling star Conal Keaney hit two points, and there were scores from Lally, Brogan and Tomas Quinn, from a '45', as they strode to a 1-06 to 0-04 interval lead over wind-assisted Tyrone.

Exciting corner forward Quinn laid down a strong claim for a place in Tommy Lyons' senior squad with three super points from play early in the second half.

The Tyrone defence buckled under the pressure of repeated waves of Dublin attack, with Keaney bringing his tally to four.

Dublin were totally in command of the central region, with Magee imperious in everything he did, and Conor Murphy and Keaney making their presence felt.

And Bryan Cullen, a commanding figure at centre back, organised his defence with authority as Tyrone's front men struggled to feed off a limited supply of possession.

Enda McGinley did pull back a couple of points as Tyrone fought back bravely in the final 10 minutes, with substitute Mark Donnelly also finding the target.

But Sean Cavanagh's 59th minute goal came too late to rescue Tyrone's quest for a third successive All-Ireland Under-21 title.

Tyrone: J Devine, F Donnelly, K McCrory, D Carlin, D Harte, M Anderson, J McMahon, P Donnelly, P Rouse, S McNally, O Mulligan (0-4), J McGuckin (0-1), M Penrose (0-1), E McGinley (0-2), S

Cavanagh (1-0). Sub: M Donnelly (0-1) for McGuckin

Dublin: S Cluxton, N Kane, D Corcoran, P Griffin, B Cahill, B Cullen, P Casey, D Magee (0-1), S Walsh, L Og O hEinechain, C Keaney (0-4), D Lally (1-1), A Brogan (0-1), G Cullen, T Quinn (0-6). Subs: C Murphy for Walsh, M Lyons for G Cullen, A Cleere for Casey, D O'Mahony for Lally.

Referee: E McEneaney (Monaghan)