Five-star Tyrone add another U20 title beating Louth

Tyrone were crowned All-Ireland Under-20 football champions for the third time in four years as their devastating attacking power proved too much for Louth, winning 5-16 to 0-17 at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

Noah Grimes smashed in 2-06 in the Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland championship decider, with senior panellist Eoin McElholm helping himself to 2-04 as the brave challenge of the Wee County was mercilessly crushed in Armagh City venue.

Louth held the lead as they approached the break, but a second Grimes goal gave the Red Hands an advantage that they protected zealously.

And with the wind blowing in their faces in the second half, they ran at the Leinster champions from all angles, stretching them to the limit and punishing with clinical finishing.

Grimes and Joey Clarke shot Tyrone into an early lead, but Sean Callaghan's spectacular high fielding helped Louth dominate the opposition kick-out as they recovered from a shaky start to take the lead through Conor McCreesh after ten minutes.

The Leinster champions had a goal chance when Shane Lennon was sent through by Callaghan, but Conan McGarvey kept out the shot.

As the Ulster men built from deep, they came up against a solid Louth resistance, with Tadhg McDonnell stepping in with the perfect tackle on Conall Sheehy as he headed for goal, while Padraic Tinnelly forced a couple of turnovers.

Noah Grimes celebrates his goal as Tyrone claimed victory

The Red Hands struck a 15th-minute goal through Grimes, and as McElholm chipped in with a point, they were on the rise.

A magnificent two-pointer from Callaghan, a perfectly judged slice into the wind, had the Wee County back in front, but the holders finished the half strongly with 1-03, including a second goal from Grimes, to lead by 2-07 to 0-08 at the break.

They pushed the lead out to seven before McDonnell sparked Louth’s fightback with a two-pointer, with Shane Lennon and Adam Gillespie also on target, and the Red Hands were living on the edge as Joey Clarke cleared off the line from Lennon, and Darragh Dorian smashed a shot against the crossbar.

And they were punished by a Tyrone side that recovered to strike for two goals in the space of five minutes, both netted by McElholm for an 11-point lead.

The Red Hands got on top of a tiring Louth side in all areas, out-scoring them by 3-07 to 0-04 in the closing 20 minutes as they took control of the contest.

Grimes squeezed over a a point from an almost impossible angle, and classy scores from McElholm, Caolan Donnelly and Ruairi McCullagh pushed the prize further beyond the Louth unit.

James Maguire did send over a two-pointer, with sub Dylan Shevlin also on target in a brief recovery, but the defending champions sealed the title with a spectacular fifth goal from substitute Shea McDermott.

Tyrone: C McGarvey; F Nelis, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; C Daly, J Clarke (0-01), C Donnelly (0-01); Conan Devlin, C O’Neill (0-01); C Sheehy, E McElholm (2-04), M Quinn; N Grimes (2-06), R McCullagh (0-02, 1f), L Og Mossey

Subs: E Donaghy for Sheehy (52), D Donaghy for Mossey (54), S McDermott (1-01) for Conan Devlin (57), L Lawn for McCullagh (60), S Broderick for Nelis (60)

Louth: T Markey; M Reid, K Martin, P Tinnelly; Tadhg McDonnell (0-03, 1tp), C McKeown, C McGinty; S Callaghan (0-4, 1tp), J Maguire (0-04, 1tp); S Lennon (0-01), C McCreesh (0-01), P Grimes-Murphy; A Gillespie (0-01, f), Tony McDonnell (0-02, 1f), D Dorian

Subs: B McKeown for Reid (42), J McGlew for McGinty (49), D Shevlin (0-01) for Dorian (49)

Referee: N Mooney (Cavan)

Watch Dublin v Armagh in the All-Ireland Football Championship on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm

Click here to read article