Dublin and Galway senior football managers John O'Mahony and Tommy Lyons are just as involved in the counties' under-21s. Ian O'Riordan reports

By some curious coincidence, both of tomorrow's All-Ireland under-21 football semi-finals involve managers looking to break their fall from the senior championship.

Just six days after the defeat to Armagh, Tommy Lyons seeks some salvation as Dublin face Tyrone. John O'Mahony has waited a little longer but seeks likewise as Galway face Kerry.

Yet, Lyons and O'Mahony share a strong belief in the importance of under-21 football in the development of senior panels.

When Lyons and his selectors took over the Dublin management last October, part of the deal was that the under-21s would also come under their guidance.

O'Mahony has had a similar link with the under-21s in his five-year reign as Galway manager.

Still, for Lyons, the trip to Cavan to play current All-Ireland champions Tyrone could probably have waited another few weeks.

Five of the team that fell by a point to Armagh will start again tomorrow, and re-inflating any player so quickly can't be easy. Yet the chance to get into an All-Ireland final is not something Dublin are about to half-grasp.

"It's been difficult for everybody," he says, "but we met again on Wednesday night, and decided we were going to get our focus right. It's a big opportunity for a lot of young players to get to an All-Ireland final. We're not going to leave any stone unturned."

As well as the five seniors that played against Armagh - goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, defenders Barry Cahill and Paul Casey, midfielder Darren Magee, and forward Alan Brogan - the Dublin under-21 side includes two other senior panellists, Paul Griffin and Brian Cullen.

Though they haven't played competitively as a team since the Leinster title victory over Wicklow last April (Dublin's first in 18 years), Lyons is certainly not concerned about match practice.

"The rest of the squad have been training away, and the club championship has helped them a lot. The club scene is very strong in Dublin and that has helped with their sharpness. There was a lot of football played there in June and in July, and a lot of that was good competitive football.

"We know it's a long time since we've played last as a team, but we've had a few challenge games and we're going up to Breffni Park to put on a good show. And I think that would be a big lift for us all."

As for winning the All-Ireland, something Dublin have never done at under-21 level, Lyons has a simple philosophy: "Sure it would be very nice to win. But like I was saying last week, and as I keep saying, you can't talk about winning an All-Ireland until you get into the final.

"What is important is that there are a lot of very good young footballers on the team, and I'd be very confident that more of them will come through into the squad next year. And that we'll have an even better team."

Lyons's most recent addition is Conal Keaney, previously best known as a hurler, but quick to prove himself as an equally capable footballer.

"Well he's a big lad for 19," he says. "But he's mobile as well and has very good skills, and he's not afraid to go for the ball. When you have those attributes you always have a chance of making the grade."

For O'Mahony, the strong link between under-21 and senior level is seen as similarly crucial.

"The reason I got involved with the under-21s from the beginning was twofold," he says. "You obviously want to win something with them, but it also means you have a good handle on what was coming through to the senior side.

"You always want to know what kind of players are available for the future and you definitely get that by working closely with the under-21s.

"We do have a number of senior players also involved in the under-21s and like myself it was an opportunity for them to get back into it.

"We were back out the Wednesday night after being beaten by Kerry because the Connacht final was coming up so quickly and I suppose in a way it was like a bit of therapy.

"We managed to beat Mayo (Connacht champions) by a point and that was encouraging from everyone's point of view. Helped us to look forward rather than look back."

The senior interest at under-21 level is fronted by team captain Joe Bergin, as well as defenders Kieran Fitzgerald, midfielder Kieran Comer, and forward Matthew Clancy.

A name almost certain to appear at senior level sometime soon is corner forward Michael Meehan, captain of this year's minor team and the St Jarlath's team that won the Colleges title.

The twist in the plot by playing Kerry - Galway's conquerors at senior level - is not something O'Mahony is dwelling on.

Kerry have their own senior presence, most notably forward Colm Cooper, but form is not always as easy to read at under-21 level.

"You cannot put in as much intensive preparation as you would with the senior side, and that makes it less predictable."