Minor title wins for Dublin and Tyrone

Electric Ireland Leinster GAA Football Minor Championship Final: Dublin 3-17 Meath 1-11

Dublin retained their Electric Ireland Leinster Minor title with ease at Croke Park on Sunday, with Cormac Costello hitting a hat-trick of goals, as well as four points, in a one-sided game.

Dublin took an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead and had a chance to increase that significantly when they were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute. However, Niall Scully's effort was well saved by Meath goalkeeper Jack Hannigan.

Dublin's breakthrough goal wasn't long in coming. Full-forward Costello won the ball and turned smartly, before his attempted point dipped wickedly and caught Hannigan off guard, dropping into the top corner to leave the Dubs 1-8 to 0-2 ahead and cruising.

The Royals hit back with two well-taken frees from Fiachra Ward, but they were facing a real battle in the second half as they trailed by 1-10 to 0-5 at the break.

Ward opened the scoring at the start of the second half to reduce Royal arrears, but they were rocked in the 34th minute when Dublin hit a second goal.

Again, it was Costello who did the damage, but on this occasion there was nothing lucky about his goal, the Whitehall youngster finishing neatly after a mazy run through the Meath defence.

It was game over five minutes later when Costello added his third goal, tapping into an empty net after being set up by his team-mate Conor McHugh.

Having struggled in attack for much of the game, Meath snaffled a goal in the 45th minute, when Cillian O'Sullivan rifled a terrific shot to the roof of Lorcan Molloy's goal.

However, the Meath comeback never really materialised and Dublin cruised to a 12-point win.

Dublin: L Molloy; E Mullan, D Byrne, R McGowan; M MacDonncha, C Mulally, G Burke (0-3); S Cunningham, S Carthy (0-1, 1 '45); R Gaughan (0-1), E Lowndes, N Walsh (0-2); C McHugh (0-4, 1f), C Costello (3-4, 1f), N Scully (0-1).

Subs: C Flynn for Walsh (45); S Cunningham (0-1) for Gaughan (51); D Campbell for McHugh (57); M Deegan for Costello (58); B Bentley for Carthy (61).

Meath: J Hannigan; D Smyth, B Power, S Gallagher; P Kennelly (0-1), S McEntee, R Ó Coileán; A Flanagan (0-1), P Harnan; C O'Sullivan (1-0), J Daley (0-1), J McEntee; B Dardis (0-1), S Coogan (0-1), F Ward (0-6, 5f).

Subs: C Carton for Kennelly (17); P Kennelly for Coogan (HT); J O'Malley for Smyth (HT); H Rooney for Harnan (43); C Gillespie for Ó Coileán (56).

Electric Ireland Ulster GAA Football Minor Championship Final: Tyrone 0-14 Monaghan 1-8

Tyrone won their 23rd Ulster Minor Football title in Clones on Sunday with a three-point victory over Monaghan.

Monaghan led by a point at half-time, but Tyrone hit five unanswered points in a row in the second half to pave the way to victory.

Monaghan started the game well, and led 0-3 to 0-1 after points from Conor McCarthy, James McElroy and Padraig Keenan set them on their way.

However, Tyrone then went on an oustanding scoring blitz which yielded seven points, and after Anthony Devlin, Sean Hackett, Peter McKenna and Caolan Harvey all hit the target, the Red Hand County were firmly in control.

McCarthy fired in a goal for Monaghan shortly before half-time, and a run of points after the break put them back in the lead.

But Tyrone took a grip of proceedings again, and points from Mark Bradley, James McGahan and Michael Cassidy were crucial as they powered on for victory.