Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Semi-Final – Kerry 1-14 Mayo 2-7

Kerry defeated Mayo by 1-14 to 2-7 in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Semi-Final on Sunday August 24th at Croke Park.

All-Ireland MFC: Kingdom power into final

ELECTRIC IRELAND ALL-IRELAND MFC SEMI-FINAL: KERRY 1-14 MAYO 2-7

Report from GAA.ie

Kerry advanced to the All-Ireland MFC Final on Sunday after an impressive final quarter showing saw off Mayo at Croke Park. In a somewhat strange game that saw just seven points in the first half, Kerry took control of things with 15 minutes to go, hitting five points without reply in a decisive closing quarter.

Kerry looked like they were heading towards a straightforward win when Tomás Ó Sé’s goal put them five clear early in the second half, but it was followed seconds later by a Mayo goal from TJ Byrne. Kerry had another chance to kill off Mayo’s challenge later in the half from the penalty spot, but Jordan Kiely’s shot was saved by Matthew Flanagan, and when it was followed by a point from Gary Boylan, the lead was down to two with 15 minutes to go.

However, Kerry kicked on brilliantly from there, with impressive substitute Liam Byrne leading them to victory with a couple of outstanding scores. A late goal from Byrne made little difference, as Kerry had built up a big lead by that point and the win was their’s. Mayo led 0-4 to 0-3 after a low-scoring first half in which both defences did well to contain their opponents. It took Kerry just shy of 20 minutes to register their first score, with Mayo kicking the first two points, through a Cian Hanley free and a Fionán Duffy point, in a tense and error-ridden opening quarter.

Kerry were wasteful and seemed quite nervous early on, but when their first score came it was worth the wait – Killian Spillane showing all his class with a superb individual score off his left foot. Kerry midfielder Mark O’Connor levelled up the sides moments later, but Mayo finished the half with two frees from Gary Boylan to leave them just ahead at the break. However, the Westerners lost influential forward Hanley to injury in the 24th minute, the Ballaghaderreen youngster forced off after landing awkwardly following a fine catch. That proved a significant blow, as Mayo struggled without him after the break.

Kerry started the second half well, and when Ó Sé palmed to the net on 41 minutes, the Kingdom went five clear. However, it was followed instantly by a well-worked Byrne goal, and Mayo were back in it. Points from Matthew Flaherty and the gifted Spillane, who finished with 0-6, put Kerry three clear again, but Kiely’s weak penalty was well saved by Flanagan, and that gave Mayo another avenue back into the game just when it looked as though Kerry were closing them down for good.

Mayo’s revival never fully materialised though, and Kerry finished strongly to take the win. Byrne, introduced at the break, led the charge in the final quarter, while Kerry also had scores from Spillane and goalkeeper Shane Ryan, who landed a brilliant free from nearly 55 metres. Kerry will play either Dublin or Donegal in the All-Ireland MFC Final on September 21.
***
Scorers for Kerry: K Spillane 0-6 (3f), L Carey 0-3, T Ó Sé 1-0, M O’Connor 0-1, M Burns 0-1, M Flaherty 0-1, J Kiely 0-1, S Ryan 0-1 (1f)

Scorers for Mayo: TJ Byrne 2-0, G Boylan 0-4 (3f), C Hanley 0-1 (1f), F Duffy 0-1 B Reape 0-1

KERRY: Shane Ryan; Dan O’Donoghue, Briain Ó Beaglaíoch, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian Sugrue, Andrew Barry, Cormac Coffey; Barry O’Sullivan, Mark O’Connor; Matthew Flaherty, Brian Rayle, Micheál Burns; Jordan Kiely, Killian Spillane, Tomás Ó Sé. Subs: Liam Carey for B Rayle (HT), Liam Kearney for M Flaherty (46), Robert Wharton for Sugrue (53), Stephen O’Sullivan for Kiely (56), Ivan Parker for Spillane (61).

MAYO: Matthew Flanagan; Conor Kilkenny, Séamus Cunniffe, Eoin O’Donoghue; Jason Forkan, Barry Duffy, Seán Conlon; Gary Walsh, Matthew Ruane; Gary Boylan, Cian Hanley, Sharoize Akram; Fionán Duffy, TJ Byrne, Brian Reape. Subs: Liam Byrne for Hanley (24), Stephen Brennan for Barry Duffy (Temporary, 29-31), Brennan for C Kilkenny (Black Card, 41), David Clarke for Forkan (47), Keith Hopkins for M Ruane (50), Jack Reilly for Duffy (59), Dylan Cannon for S Conlon (62).

Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone)
***
Report: Arthur Sullivan

Team News

The Kerry Minor Team to play Mayo in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Championship Semi Final in Croke Park on Sunday next shows one change in personnel from the side that defeated Kildare in the Quarter final. Brian Rayle, who played in the Munster Final victory over Cork, comes back into the side at centre forward in place of Liam Carey.

The team, which will be captained by Spa’s Dan O’Donoghue, will line out as follows:
1 Shane Ryan Rathmore
2 Dan O’Donoghue (C) Spa
3 Briain Ó Beaglaíoch An Ghaeltacht
4 Tom O’Sullivan Dingle
5 Brian Sugrue Renard
6 Andrew Barry Na Gaeil
7 Cormac Coffey Kerins O’Rahillys
8 Barry O’Sullivan Dingle
9 Mark O’Connor Dingle
10 Matthew Flaherty Dingle
11 Brian Rayle Lispole
12 Micheál Burns Dr Crokes
13 Jordan Kiely Dr Crokes
14 Killian Spillane Templenoe
15 Tomás Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht
Fir Ionaid
16 Eoin O’Connell St Senans
17 Liam Kearney Spa
18 Liam Carey Beaufort
19 Stephen O’Sullivan Templenoe
20 Robert Wharton Renard
21 Ivan Parker Churchill
22 Jack Morgan Austin Stacks
23 Sean Ryan Austin Stacks
24 Jason Foley Ballydonoghue

Bainistíocht:
Bainisteoir: Jack O’Connor (Dromid Pearses)
Roghnoirí: Micheál O’Shea (Castlegregory), John Galvin (Dr Crokes), Eamon Whelan (St Senans).
Tréanálaithe: Alan O’Sullivan and Arthur Fitzgerald.
Logistics: Ger O’Mahony
Physio: Kieran O’Shea
Doctor: Dr Dave Geaney

Extended Training Panel Members

Gavin White Dr. Crokes
Cathal Bambury Dingle
Aaron Murphy Dr Crokes
Brian Ó Seanacháin `Ballydonoghue
Conor Geaney Dingle
Roibeárd Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht