Paul Devlin calls for All-Ireland U20 final to be played in Croke Park

ALL IRELAND FINAL SPOT BOOKED: Tyrone's Eoin McElholm with Roscommon's Eden Kerins. Pic: ©INPHO/John McVitty

Eirgrid All-Ireland U-20 Football Championship semi-final: Tyrone 3-18 Roscommon 3-8 

Tyrone U-20s manager Paul Devlin put out a call for his team’s All-Ireland final clash with Kerry to be fixed for Croke Park next weekend, as he reflected on his side’s whirlwind performance that overwhelmed Roscommon at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday.

“That’s where the game should be for the lads. That was superb football that was played there today, and what better could you have than Croke Park hosting Tyrone and Kerry in an All-Ireland final?” was Devlin’s call after his team’s ten-point win.

Every manager would like to see their team play on the biggest stage of all, but there’s no doubt that on the evidence of the two semi-finals, it’s Tyrone who would benefit most from playing the game on a pitch that is as big and fast as they come.

Roscommon tested the Ulster champions by scoring early goals in each half, and in each instance, Tyrone had all the answers they need and more, with 11 players getting on the scoresheet at the end of a scintillating, attacking display.

Shane McGinley, who had been the star man for the Rossies throughout their Connacht campaign, didn’t waste any time in leaving his mark on the game, kicking things off with a stunning early goal and following up with a point to put Roscommon three up.

Tyrone didn’t blink.

With Eoin McElholm pulling the strings and Ruairí Campbell firing over some excellent points, they were level at 0-4 to 1-1 after six minutes, and only kicked on from there.

Tyrone pushed up high on the Roscommon kickout, bringing their midfielders and half-backs into the attack, and it proved very fruitful. Both midfielders and both wing backs got on the scoresheet, with the goals coming from Conor O’Neill and Shea O’Hare, as Tyrone moved 2-9 to 1-5 in front at half-time.

Roscommon had been a second half team all year and it looked like they were about to do the same here as Conor Ryan and Bobby Nugent found the net in the space of just two minutes shortly after half-time.

A couple of key wides prevented them from drawing level however, and once Tyrone settled back into the game on the back of two long range dead ball strikes from goalkeeper Conor McAneney, they never looked back.

Scorers for Tyrone: E McElholm 1-2, C O’Neill 1-1, S O’Hare 1-1, R McCullagh 0-3, R Cassidy 0-3 (0-1f), C McAneney 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 45), Cormac Devlin 0-2, Ó Brolly 0-1, R Fox 0-1, N Grimes 0-1, C Owens 0-1f.

Scorers for Roscommon: S McGinley 1-5 (0-3f), B Nugent 1-1, C Ryan 1-0, D Hagney 0-1, R Heneghan 0-1.

TYRONE: C McAneney; Conor Devlin, B Hughes, J Clarke; S O’Hare, M Rafferty, Ó Brolly; R Fox, C O’Neill; Cormac Devlin, C Daly, G Potter; R Cassidy, R McCullagh, E McElholm.

Subs: F Nelis for Brolly (half-time), R McHugh for Devlin (41), P McCann for Fox (52), N Grimes for Cassidy (56), C Owens for McCullagh (58).

ROSCOMMON: S Allen; E Carthy, J Connolly, D Casey; S Lambe, E Kerins, J McGreal; C Harley, C Ryan; R Heneghan, R Hester, D Hagney; S McGinley, N O’Donnell, B Nugent.

Subs: R Dowling for Heneghan (30), C Campbell for Carthy (half-time), E O’Reilly for Hester (half-time), R Conlon for Hagney (45), O O’Flaherty for McGreal (54).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).