Con O Callaghan was outstanding for Dublin against Longford.
EirGrid Leinster Under 21 Championship Semi-Final
DUBLIN 2-10 LONGFORD 0-9
By Paul Keane at St Loman's, Mullingar
Con O'Callaghan capped a thrilling few days with another huge performance as holders Dublin cruised through to the EirGrid Leinster U-21 football championship Final.
The Dublin senior helped himself to 2-5 at Lakepoint Park where Dublin turned in a strong third-quarter performance to burn off Longford and secure a March 29 final clash with Offaly.
Dessie Farrell's side will bid for a four-in-a-row of provincial titles in Portlaoise and will look for another huge performance from O'Callaghan who helped Cuala to AIB All-Ireland club final success just last Friday.
It was an enjoyable return to Mullingar for O'Callaghan whose father, Maurice, hails from the Westmeath town and represented the county as a dual player in the 1986 Championships.
Chris Sallier impressed with three points before limping off with an apparent injury though his replacement Stephen Smith kicked a score with his first touch, summing up a positive evening for the Sky Blues.
Boss Farrell made four switches to his Dublin team from the official team-sheet before throw-in, bringing in Declan Monaghan, Glenn O'Reilly, Sallier and Dan O'Brien.
One of the players who lost out was Colm Basquel, an All-Ireland club and inter-county senior medalist in 2016 who played against Cavan and Tyrone in this year's Allianz league.
Aaron Byrne, who netted twice at this venue in the quarter-final win over Westmeath, was quieter and Sallier made the biggest mark initially for Dublin's attackers.
Dublin led 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time though were fortunate as Longford, who played with a stiff wind in the first-half, kicked six wides, dropped a point effort short and had a goal chance blocked.
Frank McNamee's side only registered two first-half points from play, from Rian Brady and David McGivney, despite strong performances from the likes of senior duo Dessie Reynolds and McGivney.
The midlands outfit had a goal chance in the 24th minute but Nigel Rabbitte's shot was expertly blocked by Dubs defender Darren Byrne.
O'Callaghan and Sallier shared the first-half scoring evenly between them, a brace of points each.
Sallier's were beauties, one off either boot, and he was the link man when O'Callaghan played a quick free and neat one-two for the injury-time score that put Dublin two ahead at the interval.
O'Callaghan's first goal came 80 seconds after the restart when he intercepted a kick-out and played another one-two with Sallier before dispatching from close range.
O'Callaghan punished poor defending again in the 39th minute for his and Dublin's second goal which he finished with an improvised drop-kick shot from close range.
The strike left Dublin 2-7 to 0-3 ahead and they could afford to take the foot off the gas in the final quarter hour or so and still win with plenty to spare.
Longford refused to throw in the towel and outscored Dublin by 0-5 to 0-2 including the last four points of the game though the result was beyond doubt.
Scorers for Dublin: Con O'Callaghan 2-5 (3fs), Chris Sallier 0-3, Brian Howard 0-1, Stephen Smith 0-1.
**Scorers for Longford: ** David McGivney 0-4 (3fs), Rian Brady 0-2 (1f), Darragh Doherty 0-1, Aidan McElligott 0-1, Dessie Reynolds 0-1.
DUBLIN: Evan Comerford; Sean McMahon, Declan Monaghan, Darren Byrne; Cian Murphy, Cillian O'Shea, Eoin Murchan; Andrew Foley, Brian Howard; Tom Fox, Aaron Byrne, Glenn O'Reilly; Chris Sallier, Con O'Callaghan, Dan O'Brien.
Subs: Donal McIlgorm for O'Reilly (45), Stephen Smith for Sallier (58), Sean Bugler for Byrne (52), Darragh Spillane for O'Brien (59), Ben Shovlin for Foley (63).
LONGFORD: Conor Gallagher; Kevin Sorohan, Conor Farrell, James Mooney; Cian Brady, Dessie Reynolds, Russell Brady; David McGivney, Shane Kenny; Joe Kelly, Nigel Rabbitte, Peter Lynn; Rian Brady, Daryl Carrigy, Aidan McElligott.
Subs: Cillian Lee for Lynn (25), Jayson Matthews for Carrigy (h/t), Conor Berry for Kenny (h/t), Ronan Sweeney for Russell Brady (41), Darragh Doherty for Kelly (41), Sean Kelly for Mooney (52).
REFEREE: Niall Ward (Westmeath).
Hubert Darcy, Roscommon, and Gerard O Kelly-Lynch, Sligo, in action at Kiltoom.
EirGrid Connacht Under 21 Championship Semi-Final
SLIGO 1-13 ROSCOMMON 0-13
Sligo advanced to their first Connacht Under 21 Final since 2012 as Paul Taylor's team produced a fine display in Kiltoom to beat Roscommon, who have contested the last seven provincial deciders at this level.
Jodie O'Reilly's 47th minute goal proved to be the key score as Sligo defeated Roscommon.
Sligo trailed at the break by 0-6 to 0-4, but they responded impressively after the restart.
Darragh Cummins was prominent for the victors, who held on despite a late Roscommon rally.
EirGrid Ulster Under 21 Championship Quarter-Final replay
DONEGAL 0-18 TYRONE 1-9
Donegal delivered a powerful second half display to set up an Ulster Semi-Final clash with Cavan.
Extra-time failed to divide them last Wednesday and it was equally hard fought on this occasion.
Ryan Coleman netted a goal for Tyrone as the teams departed deadlocked 0-8 to 1-5 at half-time.
Then Donegal enjoyed a productive stint when the action recommenced with Jamie Brennan and Michael Carroll landing vital points.
Tyrone scores from David Mulgrew and Emmett McNabb brought them to within two points of Donegal, but Declan Bonner's side responded.
Cian Mulligan and Michael Langan slotted important points as Donegal advanced.
