Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Semi-Final – Dublin 3-12 Kerry 1-10

Impressive Dubs into minor final

Report from the GAA.ie web site

Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Semi-Final: Dublin 3-12 Kerry 1-10

Dublin will play Meath in the All-Ireland minor football final on September 23 after a comprehensive victory over Kerry in the semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday. Dessie Farrell’s side were in the lead for the entire game, led by seven at the break and won by eight in the end, although there were stages in the second half when Kerry were well in the game. They got to within two points of the Dublin lead with around 10 minutes to go, and had a superb goal chance around this period, with only a brilliant last-ditch block from Dublin full-back David Byrne denying Kerry what would have been a potentially decisive goal.

But Dublin came through the storm and produced a powerful final few minutes, with a goal from David Campbell complimenting three unanswered points to wrap up an eight-point win. Dublin deservedly led by seven points at the break, with two first-half goals cementing that advantage. They started the game brilliantly, and had 1-4 on the board within a few minutes, Niall Scully, the brilliant Cormac Costello and Shane Carthy clipping over early points, with Costello and Scully in superb early form. The first goal came when Conor McHugh pounced on a breaking ball close to goal and kept his cool to slot past Gavin Ó Curráin in the Kerry goal.

Kerry managed to pick themselves up from the early Dublin blows, and points from Jack Savage, Conor Keane and Niall Sheehy reduced to gap to four with ten minutes gone. Dublin held firm during this Kerry revival though, and after a lengthy scoreless period, they moved well clear again, with a sensational goal from Costello lighting up Croke Park. The corner forward won possession way out on the right hand wing, close to the 45 metre line. He raced into the corner, and made for goal, shaking off his man in the process. He then danced around two challenges before rifling in a brilliant shot to the left hand corner. It was as good a goal as the stadium has seen all year.

That made it 2-5 to 0-3, and although Kerry kicked a couple of points before the whistle, Dublin were firmly in control going in at the break. Kerry had cut the lead to four points 10 minutes after the restart though, thanks to a very-well taken goal from Cillian Fitzgerald. The three-pointer came about after a wave of Kerry attackers descended on the Dublin goal, with Fitzgerald the one who eventually was given the task of lashing home, which he did superbly well.

That made it 2-8 to 1-7, and the sides traded scores for a while, with Dublin developing a knack of responding to Kerry scores with vital scores of their own. However, a couple of frees from Kerry’s Jack Savage had the Kingdom within two points with plenty of time left for them to come back, but it was then that Dublin kicked on and powered into the final. They kicked 1-3 without reply in the final stages, with Costello remaining their most lethal outlet in attack, alongside the gifted McHugh. McHugh kicked a crucial score to put four in it with time running out, and then Campbell palmed home into an open goal with just a few minutes left on the clock to wrap up the win.

Scorers for Dublin: C Costello 1-3 (1f), C McHugh 1-2 (1f), D Campbell 1-0, N Scully 0-2, S Carthy 0-2 (1 45′), M MacDonncha 0-1, G Burke 0-1, S Cunningham 0-1

Scorers for Kerry: C Fitzgerald 1-0, J Savage 0-3 (3f), C Keane 0-2, N Sheehy 0-2 (1f), D Daly 0-1, D Foran 0-1, R Murphy 0-1

Dublin: L Molloy; E Mullen, D Byrne, R McGowan; E Lowndes, C Mulally, M Mac Donncha; S Cunningham, S Carthy; N Walsh, N Scully, G Burke; C Costello, C McHugh, R Gaughan.

Subs: S Cunningham for R Gaughan (44), D Gormley for N Walsh (48), D Campbell for N Scully (54), M Deegan for G Burke (59).

Kerry: G Ó Curráin; C Ó Lúing, G Crowley, P O’Connor; B Crowley, R Murphy, G Horan; K Murphy, J Barry; D Foran, J Savage, C Fitzgerald; É Ó Conchúir, N Sheehy, C Keane.

Subs: D Daly for É Ó Conchúir (27), S Moloney for N Sheehy (48), G O’Sullivan for K Murphy (50), G O’Shea for D Foran (58), E Doyle for J Barry (59)

Team News

The Kerry Minor team and substitutes for The All Ireland Semi Final V Dublin has been announced:

Kerry V Dublin in Croke Park on Sunday 2nd September at 1.30pm 2012.

1 Gavin Curran (Daingean Uí Chúis) 2 Cathal Ó Lúing (An Ghaeltacht). 3 Gavin Crowley (Templenoe) 4. Patrick O’Connor (Daingean Uí Chúis) 5. Brian Crowley (Templenoe) 6.Ronan Murphy (Beaufort) 7. Greg Horan (Austin Stacks) 8 Kieran Murphy (Kilcummin) 9. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil) 10 David Foran (St. Senan’s) 11 Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahilly’s) 12 Cillian Fitzgerald (Churchill) 13 . Éanna Ó Conchúir (An Ghaeltacht) Captain 14 Niall Sheehy (John Mitchel’s) 15. Conor Keane (Killarney Legion)

The Substitutes are as follows: – 16. Stephen Cahillane (Keel) 17. Gary O’Sullivan (Listry) 18. Darragh Carmody (Na Gaeil) 19. Shane O’Connor (John Mitchel’s) 20. Gavin O’Shea (Dr Crokes) 21. Evan Doyle (Ballyduff) 22. Denis Daly ( St .Mary’s) 23. Sean Moloney (John Mitchel’s) 24. Adam Barry (Brosna) Bainisteóir: Mickey Ned O’Sullivan(Kenmare)

Selectors : John O’ Keeffe (Austin Stacks) and Peter Keane (St. Mary’s)

Physical Trainer: Ross Corbett,

Coach: Peter O Brien