Offaly are All-Ireland U20 champions!

Offaly 1-14 Roscommon 1-11 - EirGrid All-Ireland U-20 FC final

Offaly have been crowned All-Ireland U-20 football champions after a stirring victory over Roscommon in the final at Croke Park this afternoon (Sunday).

Offaly captain Kieran Dolan lifted the Tim Clarke Cup amid rapturous scenes as Offaly fans celebrated a first All-Ireland title in any GAA competition since 1998.

Dolan had missed the Leinster final victory over Dublin and the All-Ireland semi-final win over Cork through injury, but he recovered sufficiently to be introduced as a late substitute and was given a great reception by supporters.

Cathal Donoghue deputised as captain and the Kilcormac-Killoughey player produced an outstanding display in the All-Ireland final, winning plenty of possession and scoring two points. Donoghue was chosen as the official man of the match award winner afterwards.

When Jack Bryant’s goal gave Offaly a 1-13 to 0-9 lead with just over ten minutes to go, the Faithful men had one hand on the trophy.

But Declan Kelly’s charges had to withstand a late Roscommon comeback before eventually clinching a deserved victory by three points.

Adam McDermott’s 56th-minute goal raised Roscommon hopes that they could pull the game out of the fire or at least force extra-time.

With Roscommon subs Charlie Carthy and Jason Doory scoring points, Offaly’s lead was cut to two points (1-13 to 1-11) as full-time approached.

But Offaly held their nerve under pressure with Morgan Tynan’s point from a free proving the last score, despite Roscommon’s despairing efforts to conjure an equalising goal. Tynan was impressive at midfield and finished the game with 0-4 to his credit.

Overall, Roscommon paid the price for missing gilt-edged goal chances in the first half. Offaly goalie Seán O’Toole denied James Fitzpatrick early on while Roscommon corner-forward Darragh Heneghan dragged the ball wide when well placed a few minutes later.

At the other end, a more clinical and composed Offaly side took a greater proportion of their scoring opportunities. Offaly led 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time and although both sides had six wides apiece, Roscommon’s misses were the more glaring.

The eventual winners took command in the third quarter, outscoring Roscommon by 0-6 to 0-2 to lead 0-13 to 0-7 at the second water break. Aaron Kellaghan built on the two superb points he kicked in the first half by raising two more white flags (one mark). And the typically energetic Cormac Egan scored his second point during this spell of Offaly dominance.

The all-important Offaly goal came following great work from Donoghue and lively sub Keith O’Neill, who passed inside to Bryant. The Shamrocks attacker – a thorn in the side of the Roscommon defence throughout – rattled the net with aplomb off his right foot. Bryant has been Offaly’s star forward during their march to glory and he added 1-2 to his scoring tally in the final.

Yet Offaly fans had to endure a nervy finale, including four minutes of added time, before the celebrations could begin in earnest.

SCORERS - Offaly: J Bryant 1-2; A Kellaghan 0-4 (1 mark); M Tynan 0-4 (2f, 1 ‘45’); C Donoghue and C Egan 0-2 each. Roscommon: A McDermott 1-2; D Cregg 0-5 (3f); B O’Carroll 0-2 (1f); C Carthy and J Doory 0-1 each.

Offaly: Seán O’Toole (Shamrocks); Aaron Brazil (Shannonbridge), Tom Hyland (Bracknagh), Lee Pearson (Edenderry); Rory Egan (Edenderry), John Furlong (Tullamore), Fionn Dempsey (Bracknagh); Ed Cullen (Clara), Morgan Tynan (Ballinagar); Cathal Flynn (Ferbane), Oisín Keenan Martin (Tullamore), Cathal Donoghue (Kilcormac-Killoughey); Cormac Egan (Tullamore), Jack Bryant (Shamrocks), Aaron Kellaghan (Rhode). Subs used: Keith O’Neill (Clonbullogue), Kieran Dolan (Shamrocks).

Rest of match-day panel: Killian Kavanagh (Walsh Island), Adam Kelly (Clara), Ciarán Egan (Tullamore), Cathal Ryan (Daingean), Darragh Flynn (Ferbane), Mikey Cunningham (Bracknagh), Cormac Delaney (Clara).

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Conor Lohan, Colin Walsh (captain), Dylan Gaughan; Patrick Gavin, Tomás Crean, Jack Lohan; Keith Doyle, Ruaidhrí Fallon; Robbie Dolan, James Fitzpatrick, Daire Cregg; Adam McDermott, Ben O’Carroll, Darragh Heneghan. Subs used: Charlie Carthy, Sean Trundle, David Wynne, Jason Doory, Joseph O’Malley, Enda Crawley.

Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone).