Champions Tyrone see off Kildare to secure return to U20 All-Ireland football final
BACK TO THE FINAL: Tyrone's Shea McDermott scores a goal despite Evan Boyle and Cian McKevitt. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Tyrone took another huge step in their mission to maintain their dominance of U20 football with All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kildare at Kingspan Breffni.
The Red Hands are back in another decider, just 60 minutes away from claiming a successive title and a fourth in five years.
It was looking good for wind-assisted Kildare when Jimmy Lynch landed a two-pointer after three minutes, but they struggled to break down a well organised Tyrone resistance thereafter.
Despite dominating possession for lengthy stretches, the Lilywhites lacked penetration and finishing power and soon found themselves trailing as Adrian McGurren slotted over a couple of scores.
Pressing the Tyrone kick-out, Evan Boyle and Daniel Colbert kept Kildare on the front foot, but time and again they were turned over.
Luke Neeson, Brian Gallagher and Michael McDermott stepped in with timely challenges as the Ulster men turned over possession to add to their opponents’ mounting frustration.
Euan Cowzer brought Kildare level, but Tyrone stepped up the tempo in the second quarter, pushing clear through Aodhan Quinn and Leo Hughes.
The Leinster champions had their own defensive stalwarts in Liam Kelly and Senan Gallagher, but the clever movement of the Tyrone attack stretched them wide, leaving gaps through the middle.
And a moment of magic from Shea McDermott saw their top-scorer blast home a brilliant 29th minute goal off the underside of the crossbar.
Cowzer’s second point made little impact, as Conor O’Neill shot the champion s into a five-points interval lead, 1-6 to 0-4.
Kildare registered three quick-fire scores at the start of the second half through Lynch, Colbert and Ronan Kelly as the moved the ball through the hands to find openings.
Colbert provided an effective link from defence to attack, and suddenly the Lilywhites had belief and a measure of cohesion they were unable to find in the opening period.
Lynch drilled a ’45 between the posts with the wind gusting in his face and added a free to bring his side level in the 43rd minute.
The holders were clinging on to a slender one-point lead going into the final quarter, thanks to a Conor O’Neill two-pointer.
But substitute Darragh Donaghy made a stunning impact with his first touch, intercepting a kick-out to fire in his side’s second goal on 49 minutes.
Enda Donaghy restored the five-point lead, and the holders had regained their composure, although there were anxious moments at the back, goalkeeper Oisin Watson denying Harry Redmond with a double save.
S McDermott, D Donaghy 1-0 each, C O’Neill 0-3 (1tp), A Quinn, A McGurren, P Colton 0-2 each, L Hughes, E Donaghy, D Devlin 0-1 each.
J Lynch 0-6 (1tp, 1 ’45, 1f), R Kelly 0-3 (1f), E Cowzer 0-2, D Colbert, R Murray 0-1 each.
O Watson; S Broderick, L Neeson, M McNamee; A Quinn, C Devlin, B Gallagher; E Donaghy, C O’Neill; C Sheehy, L Hughes, T Muldoon; A McGurren, P Colton, S McDermott.
D Donaghy for Muldoon (46), D Devlin for McGurren (52), R McCullagh for Hughes (57), A Colton for Sheehy (65).
C Carroll; C McKevitt, L Kelly, S Gallagher; C Keaveny, F Dowling, B Ryan; E Boyle, R Lawlor; D Colbert, L Kenny, J Lynch; E Cowzer, C Moran, R Kelly.
R Murray for McKevitt (50), C Keaveny for Cowzer (50), A Donegan for Kenny (55), H Redmond for Keaveny (55).
B Tiernan (Dublin).
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