Tomas Ó Sé's Kerry U20s just pip Royals to claim final spot

Ó Sé’s charges displayed heroic battling qualities to defy their critics in the hat at Semple Stadium and held on to a one-point lead late on.

Mon, 13 May, 2024 - 07:34

Murt Murphy, Semple Stadium

Tomás Ó Sé and Kerry ended a 16-years wait since the Kingdom found themselves contesting an All-Ireland U21/U20 decider on Saturday.

Tomás Ó Sé’s charges displayed heroic battling qualities to defy their critics in the heat at Semple Stadium and held on to a one-point lead late on.

They will face Tyrone in the All-Ireland final this coming Saturday.

There was late drama when Meath substitute Conor McWeeney butchered two chances for an equaliser while fullback Liam Kelly was the wrong player to have the last pot of the game that was wild and wide.

Nevertheless, there is a lot of Ó Sé in this side.

“It was a great game of football,” the Kerry legend said. “I didn’t see it as an epic now, from where I was standing. It was a tough game; it was end-to-end stuff.

“I think they focused in on our strengths, which was a good start, and they banged us for four points very early on.

“The lads stuck to the job, stuck to the plan, played very, very well when they moved the ball fast. We went in a point up, possibly should have been more up, but the second half was a hum-dinger.

“We knew that Meath were going to come at us, and they had to dig deep, and the five subs that came in were outstanding. Every one of them was brilliant.”

Crestfallen Meath manager Cathal Ó Bric was proud of his charges in defeat. “The players are heartbroken, the coaches and management are heartbroken also.

“We had no fear of Kerry coming down here at all today. We knew we had the ability, the talent and the work rate to take on Kerry and match them in every department.

“The lads showed that coming down that final track there where we had a number of chances to haul them in, get extra time or even nip it by a point. Unfortunately we were not able to seal the deal but I am hugely proud of this group of Meath players who have given Meath supporters huge delight and huge hope throughout this campaign.”

Kerry gave up great goal chances in the second half when firstly Luke Crowley in the 37th minute when Aidan Crowley sent him through one on one with the keeper but he blazed over the bar when a goal appeared the easier option.

Then in the 50th minute Tomas Kennedy was denied by a superb save by keeper McDermott at full stretch. Two minutes later Kerry missed another gilt-edged goal chance when Paddy Lane, who had been introduced and scored a point, was denied by fullback Liam Kelly, at the expense of a forty five.

Both sides only added four points each in the second half with Meath’s points coming from danger man Jamie Murphy with two and one each from midfielders jack Kinlough and Charlie O’Connor.

Cormac Dillon (2) and Luke Crowley along with Lane were the winner’s only marksmen in a half dominated by defenses and poor shooting.

Scorers: Kerry; C Dillon (0-42fs), E Healy and L Crowley (0-2 each), R Diggin, D Kirby, T Kennedy and P Lane (0-1 each)

Meath: J Murphy (0-5,2fs), H Corcoran (0-2, 1f), J O’Regan, J Kinlough, C O’Connor and S Leonard (0-1 each) Teams:

KERRY: M Tansley; M Lynch, R Diggin, G Evans; C Keating, D O’Connor, C Lynch; R Stack, E Healy; D Kirby, O Ferris, T Kennedy; C Dillon, A Crowley, L Crowley.

Subs: A Segal for Diggin (35), C Brosnan for Ferris (43), F Murphy for Evans (44), P Lane for Crowley (46), L Evans for Kirby (56)

MEATH: O McDermott; C Ennis, L Kelly, S O’Hare; E Armstrong, J O’Regan, K Smyth; J Kinlough, C O’Connor; S Leonard, R Stafford, C Duke; H Corcoran, J Murphy, R McConnell.

Subs: C McWeeney for Leonard (h/t), S Emmanuel for Stafford (42), H Martin for O’Connor (42), B O’Halloran for Smyth (45), J Harkin (54)

Referee: T Murphy (Galway).