Hat-trick heroes secure title for Tribesmen

Galway 6-5 Down 4-6

Michael Meehan and Sean Armstrong both banged home stunning hat-tricks to inspire Galway to a third All-Ireland Under-21 football title at Mullingar.

Ten goals, a missed penalty and some wonderful attacking action, this was a remarkable game which had virtually everything.

The first half was laden with goals, some the product of naïve, sometimes catastrophic defending, but all quite stunning finishes.

Meehan showed his star quality with two cracking goals inside the opening eight minutes.

Declan Alder had no chance with either, the first blasted home from Cahal Blake's assist, the second an equally clinical strike from 10 yards, after Fiachra Breahnach's pass had split a static Mourne defence.

Down needed instant inspiration, and they got it from their most exciting attacker, Conor Laverty.

He hit two points and followed up with an 18th minute goal, slid low beyond the despairing reach of Michael Killelea.

And when Michael McArdle grabbed a carbon-copy goal four minutes before the break, the sides were level at 2-3 each.

But there was still time for more drama, Galway corner back Alan Burke scything through the Down defence on a blinding 70 metre run to set Sean Armstrong up for a goal.

Galway led by 3-3 to 2-3 at the turnaround, but when Armstrong skinned his marker to cut inside and plant his second goal in the bottom corner of the net, they opened up a six points advantage.

There was worse to come for Down. Three minutes later Blake's dropping delivery was spectacularly punched to the net by the soaring, twisting genius of Meehan.

It was Galway's day. Goalkeeper Killilea made his own contribution by saving a Jason Brown penalty, but he was beaten for the third time when Aidan Carr scrambled home another goal two minutes from the end.

And when substitute Joe Ireland drilled home his side's fourth in stoppage time, the Tribesmen, their lead now cut to two points, looked as if they woiuld have to endure a nervy finish, but Armstrong fired in his third, the game's tenth

Down: D Alder, E Henry, M Rooney, N McEvoy, D Neeson, J Colgan, D Cunningahm, A Rodgers, M McClean, C Laverty (1-2), A Carr (1-0), N McArdle (1-1, 1 free), M Poland (0-1, free), J McGovern (0-1), J Brown. Subs: J Ireland (1-0) for Henry (36 mins), M Clarke (0-1, free) for McGovern (45 mins), J Patterson for McArdle (49 mins), M Miskelly for Brown (52 mins)

Galway: M Killilea, A Burke, F Hanley, M Flannery, D Mullahy, N Coyne, G Sice, N Coleman, B Cullinane, B Faherty (0-1), D Dunleavy (0-1), F Breathnach, M Meehan (3-2, 1 free), C Burke, S Armstrong (3-1, 1 free). Subs: J Murphy for Mullahy (36 mins), A Glynn for Coyne (56 mins)

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).

Earlier, Longford beat Fermanagh 0-15 to 1-5 in the Allianz National Hurlin League Division 3 Shield final.

Later, in the Division 2 final, Offaly and Carlow could only manage a draw as it finished 6-1 to 4-7.