Kerry youngsters’ giant leap

Kerry 1-11 Derry 1-6: The difficulties in claiming back-to-back senior All-Irelands are well-observed, but the feat is no less difficult at the minor grade.

Laois were the last county to manage just that when they accounted for Tyrone in the final back in 1997, but Kerry stand just 60 minutes away from emulating them – and the last Kerry minor side to do it in 1963 – after this measured defeat of a Derry team that didn’t do itself justice.

With 11 of their panel eligible again next year, it may be that Derry’s younger crop failed to come to grips with the enormity of the occasion. Manager Damian McErlain suggested afterwards that was the case, especially in a disappointing opening half.