Down U21s see off Dublin challenge

Down 2-7 Dublin 0-9

Goals in either half from James McGovern and Niall McArdle saw Down remain on course for their All-Ireland Under-21 football title since 1979 at Navan's Pairc Tailteann today.

The Mourne men saw off the challenge of Leinster champions Dublin, despite a late four-point rally from Paddy Canning's side.

Wind-assisted, Down should have had a bigger lead than 0-05 to 0-03 as the game clock ticked towards 30 minutes.

And they crucially did by the half-time whistle as Jason Brown's sweetly-angled through ball was finished to an empty net - vacated by advancing Dublin 'keeper Michael Savage - by McGovern.

Brown was making amends after missing a sixth-minute penalty.

Two minutes after the break, Down supporters were cheering a second goal. Mark Poland found McArdle in acres of space and he blasted home from 12 metres out.

Dublin substitute John Coughlan did make an impressive impact as he set up Bernard Brogan for two of his four points in the final quarter-of-an-hour.

2-07 to 0-06 down, Brogan scored twice and with Dublin skipper Bryan Cullen and his half-back Ian Ward also slotted over but it was too little, too late for the young Dubs.

Down meet Galway - 0-17 to 1-11 conquerors of Munster's finest Cork - in next Saturday's decider.