In an exciting All-Ireland minor football semi-final that was held under favourable conditions in Mullingar, Derry narrowly defeated Kerry with a score of 1-13 to 1-12. Shortly after the start of the game, Kacper Robak, the goalkeeper, pulled off a magnificent double-save from Derry’s James Sargent and Ruairí Biggs. However, Kerry retaliated swiftly, with Michael Horan securing the opening score of the match.
Both teams followed up with goals – first Dylan Rocks, who was set up by Luke Grant, and then Eoin O’Flaherty, who took advantage of a detailed pass from Seán Ó Cuinn, resulting in Kerry leading 1-1 to 1-0 within the first seven minutes. Nineteen minutes into the match, the score stood at 1-3 for both sides. Nevertheless, Kerry managed to accrue four additional points by the 28th minute, thanks to two excellent frees from Gearóid White and a point each from Ben Murphy and O’Flaherty.
Even though Derry’s Biggs and Sargent had a couple of quick goal attempts blocked, the second attempt resulted in a ’45’ which was successfully handled by Sargent. At halftime, Kerry was leading with a score of 1-7 to Derry’s 1-4.
As the play resumed, two points by Eamon Young and another by Ger Dillon, all from Derry, managed to close the gap within the first four minutes. The level of competition was such that both teams scored three points each by the 49th minute, resulting in a tie of 1-10 per side.
However, Derry soon took the lead, courtesy of Dillon and Young. Joey McCarthy and Sargent exchanged points from frees with Aodhan Ó Beaglaoich sealing the game during the second minute of the three added-time minutes. Unfortunately for Kerry, their corner back, Ruadhan Donovan received a black card just as the match was coming to a close.
In a match that saw an abundance of strategic moves and stirring displays, the teams took their positions. For Derry, J McCloy was in defence, alongside P O’Kane, R Canavan and P Haran. The midfield was manned by L Grant, who scored a point, C Ó Mianáin and D McGuckin, who also chipped in with a point. Runners like J Sargent, credited with four points, two of which were frees and one ’45’, and C McBride held the mid-pitch. Forward players included E Young, who scored four vital points, two of them frees, T McHugh, C Hargan, G Dillon netting two points and R Biggs. D Rocks was an integral part of the team, contributing to the score with a goal. There were substitutions to the team with C Rocks replacing Biggs at the 36th minute mark, adding a point to the tally, and C McNally took Haran’s position after 38 minutes.
On the opposite side, K Robak was in goal for Kerry, backed up by defenders F Ryan, M Lynch and R Donovan. The middle order consisted of S Ó Cuinn, A Ó Beaglaoich, who managed a point, and G O’Keeffe. B Murphy and E O’Flaherty took possession in the midfield, each scoring a point and O’Flaherty additionally scoring a goal. The front line was held by G White, contributing five points, four of them frees, J McCarthy, É Murphy, each with a point and J Joy also scoring. R Carroll and M Horan were also attacking players for Kerry, with Horan banking a point. Four substitutions were made during the game – R O’Driscoll replaced Carroll after 44 minutes, C Mac Gearailt substituted É Murphy on the 52nd minute, D Sargent replaced Ryan after 53 minutes and D O’Sullivan took over from Ó Cuinn after 59 minutes of play. A. Coyne from Westmeath undersigned the match as the referee.