Gaelic Games

Minor champions Kerry ease past Derry and into All-Ireland final

Michael Foley scores vital 1-3 for Kingdom who dominate proceedings at Croke Park

Kerry’s Andrew Barry evades Derry’s Oisin Duffin and Michael McEvoy during his side’s All-Ireland minor semi-final win at Croke Park. Photograph: Inpho
Kerry’s Andrew Barry evades Derry’s Oisin Duffin and Michael McEvoy during his side’s All-Ireland minor semi-final win at Croke Park. Photograph: Inpho
Paul Keane In Croke Park
Sun Aug 23 2015 - 15:40

Kerry 1-11 Derry 1-6

Michael Foley’s 1-3 haul proved crucial for Kerry as the All-Ireland minor football title holders eased past Derry to keep alive their hopes of back to back title successes.

The Kingdom were the better side throughout at Croke Park though they were pegged back to level terms following a fortuitous Derry goal early in the second-half.

Foley’s excellence ultimately bailed Jack O’Connor’s side out, however, as the Spa attacker responded to Derry’s 33rd minute equalising goal with one for Kerry five minutes later, adding two more points subsequently.

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The result means Kerry will take on Kildare or, potentially Tipperary in a repeat of the Munster decider on All-Ireland final day next month.

Aside from a one-point provincial semi-final win over Cork, Kerry have been largely at their ease throughout the campaign, beating Sligo by double scores last time out.

And within five minutes of the start here, despite slippery conditions, they had three points racked up through Conor Geaney, Foley and Andrew Barry.

By the 13th minute, Kerry’s lead was out to four points at 0-5 to 0-1. They operated with a two-man full-forward, playing their extra man around the middle third.

It worked a treat as they dominated possession and forced a Derry side that battled their way through the Ulster championship with one- and three-point wins over Donegal and Cavan to live off scraps.

Kerry led 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time though it should have been more and they rued that fact when Conor Maunsell pinched a bizarre equalising goal after the restart.

The Derry corner-back's long ball in somehow flew over the head of Kerry 'keeper Billy Courtney and into the net.

They were level again at 1-4 to 0-7 before a fine Conor Geaney point for Kerry and that crucial Foley goal, a palmed effort following a lung bursting Mike Breen run through the middle.

Kerry: B Courtney; J Morgan, D Brosnan, J Foley; G White, M Breen, D O'Brien; JM Foley (0-2), A Barry (0-1); B Sweeney, S O'Shea, B Barrett; M Foley (1-3), B O Seanachain, C Geaney (0-5, 0-3f).

Subs: T O'Sullivan for White (16-18), O'Sullivan for Brosnan (39), M O'Connor for Breen (39), S O'Sullivan for Barrett (46), E Cronin for O'Shea (56).

Derry: C Mullan-Young; N Keenan, C Maunsell (1-0), C McGrogan; O Duffin, M McEvoy, E Concannon; C Glass (0-1, 0-1f), P Kearney; S Downey, J Doherty, P Coney; S McGuigan (0-2, 0-1f), F Kearney (0-2), T Flanagan.

Subs: N McAtamney (0-1) for P Kearney (h/t), G McLoughlin for Duffin (35), F Higgins for Maunsell (41), B Grant for Coney (41), S Higgins for McGuigan (48).

Referee: J Henry (Mayo).