Fergal O'Donnell's class of 2006 have driven Roscommon to a precious 1-10 to 0-09 victory over Kerry in today's All-Ireland MFC final replay at Cusack Park, Ennis.
Donal Shine did most of the damage in this Ennis encounter, firing over 0-06 (4f), with David O'Gara's 32nd-minute goal providing the ideal springboard for the Rossies' first minor success since 1951.
Paddy Curran cracked over three frees to help Kerry go in at the break 0-05 to 0-04 ahead.
But the Connacht champions rose to the challenge with O'Gara scrambling home after a Conor Devaney delivery into the Kerry square.
Kerry levelled twice and then went in front, but Shine decisively sent over the final three points. The Kingdom, bidding to join their seniors as All-Ireland champions, had substitute Jamie Doolan sent off for an altercation in injury-time.
With underfoot conditions testing both sides, it was the Rossies who started the brighter with wing back Niall Carty, who came into the starting line-up at the expense of Mark McLoughlin, prominent from the throw-in.
Carty's strong running typified the underdogs' effort with their rearguard performing a very effective marking job on Kerry danger man Curran.
The Waterville lad, who shot over 0-08 in the drawn game, was limited to just three frees in the opening half, as Kerry's tendency to overplay the ball saw him and the impish Eoin Kennedy starved of quality possession.
Still, the Munster champions did enough to warrant their one-point lead at the break with both Kennedy and midfielder Tommy Walsh firing over from play.
Walsh's score, after 21 minutes, was the game's first point from play and a fantastic shot off his right, bent over from 50 metres out.
Things would have been better for the Rossies but for the smart shot stopping of Kerry net minder Tomas Mac an tSaoir. He saved two goal chances from the green and gold, with his 12th-minute thwarting of Keith Waldron standing out.
The An Ghaeltacht number one showed his cat-like reflexes to get down at Waldron's feet and smother his shot away to the right.
Walsh's towering point was Kerry's second white flag in the space of a minute, following on from a Curran free, and it moved them 0-03 to 0-01 ahead.
Shine then teed up O'Gara for a point and swapped frees with Curran. An evenly-matched half was brought to a close with both Kennedy, who showed great poise to keep his feet when tackled, and Fintan Cregg, who out-muscled David Moran on a lung-bursting run, pointing in injury-time.
Roscommon got off to a flyer in the second half as Devaney’s teasing ball was fumbled between Mac an tSaoir and Daithi Ó Sé, and the lurking O'Gara was perfectly placed, when it dropped to the deck, to slam home.
Carty cut through the Kerry half back line to set up Devaney for a 43rd-minute point and O'Donnell's youngsters suddenly had a goal advantage (1-05 to 0-05).
Kerry drew on their reserves and immediately went about chipping away at the deficit. After a turnover, Kennedy danced down the left flank and flung over a brilliant point from an awkward angle.
Garry Sayers opened his account and then Curran, benefiting from a strong run from Patrick Curtin, sent over his fourth free to level it at 0-08 to 1-05.
Kerry, seeking a first title at the grade since 1994, nudged in front when Curran played in Walsh for an excellent score.
On the rack, Roscommon managed to roar back at their rivals, gobbling up Mac an tSaoir's kick-outs with substitute Alan O'Hara adding new impetus to their forward lines.
Their midfielders David Keenan and Shine were rampant in the closing ten minutes, and Kerry had simply run out of gas. Shine sent over a free to tie up the game and then after another Carty-inspired attack, O'Hara landed his one and only score.
It was not all plain sailing – the large primrose and gold faithful endured a nervy finish, as they had to wait until injury-time for Shine's much-needed insurance points to confirm their history-making day.
Team captain Flynn and Keenan were guilty of some poor shooting, and it was left to Shine to pocket a late trio of points. His first saw him swivel sweetly onto his right and rifle over.
Two more frees from Shine followed as Kerry lost their grip on the game and Doolan let his frustration get the better of him in a late fracas, during which Roscommon 'keeper Mark Miley received a facial injury.
After another pulsating tie, it was left to Roscommon centre back Flynn to raise the Tommy Markham Cup aloft and crown an unforgettable fourth minor title for his county.
Kerry: T Mac an tSaoir; B Russell, M Moloney, D Ó Sé; S Enright, A Greaney, B Costello; T Walsh (0-02), D Moran; P Curtin, G O’Driscoll, J Buckley; G Sayers (0-01), P Curran (capt) (0-04 (4f)), E Kennedy (0-02).
Subs used: D O’Shea for Buckley (half-time), S Browne for Costello (43), J Doolan for Curtin (59).
Roscommon: M Miley; P Domican, P Gleeson, S Ormsby; N Carty, D Flynn (capt), C Garvey; D Keenan, D Shine (0-06 (4f)); C Devaney (0-01), J McKeague, K Waldron; P Garvey, F Cregg (0-01), D O'Gara (1-01).
Subs used: C McHugh for McKeague (45 mins), A O’Hara (0-01) for Garvey (49).
Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh).
