Kerry 1-11 Derry 1-06
Captain Conor Geaney may have been the star for Kerry coming into this year’s All-Ireland semi-final but fellow corner-forward Michael Foley hit 1-3 for the reigning minor champions in their five-point win over Derry.
The Spa clubman got the vital goal in the second half for Jack O’Connor’s men as they fought back after Conor Maunsell slotted a freak goal for Derry.
Goalkeeper Billy Courtney was left red-faced as the ball looped over his head and Derry were level after 33 minutes.
But it was a well-deserved win for Kerry who were the better side at Croke Park and will go on to defend the title they won for the first time in 20 years last term against either Tipperary or Kildare on September 20.
Geaney, who is a cousin of seniors Paul and Michael, was still a major asset and has now hit 2-23 in just five games in this year’s championship – he slotted 0-05 today.
Meanwhile Derry’s wait goes on; it is 13 years since they last claimed an All-Ireland minor crown.
They trailed 0-06 to 0-03 at half-time and couldn’t reduce the deficit after the break with substitute Niall McAtamney’s late goal disallowed.
Both sides struggled to deal with the greasy conditions but initially it looked as though Kerry would run away with it.
They took a 0-05 to 0-01 lead inside 13 minutes but Derry packed out their defence and fought their way back.
Geaney kicked Kerry into the lead in the second minute when he won a free and tapped it over from 45 yards out.
Michael Foley hit a quick-fire second as the Kerry forwards looked too hot to handle and Andrew Barry slotted a third after a patient build-up.
Derry flooded back in numbers and AFL potential recruit Conor Glass was used as an extra-man in defence, as was Tiarnan Flanagan.
Flanagan was one of three changes from the spirited win over Longford three weeks ago while another one of those, Francis Kearney helped Derry find a way back.
First Sean McGuigan got his name amongst the scorers with a curled effort from his left boot but Kerry extended their lead through Geaney, again from a free, and a John Mark Foley point in the 13th minute.
That gave the Kingdom a 0-05 to 0-01 lead but when Geaney failed to convert a possible goal opportunity Derry grew into the game.
Glass was deployed more around the middle and they used the route one option to find Kearney in at full-forward.
Kearney pointed their second after 21 minutes and McGuigan doubled his tally for the day with a free.
Kerry had not scored in 14 minutes until John Mark Foley potted a monster effort from distance and that gave them a 0-06 to 0-03 lead the break.
Derry made the ideal start to the second-half when Maunsell had the ball in the Kerry net after three minutes.
It was just a speculative effort from the Derry corner-back but it left the scores at 0-06 to 1-03. Geaney replied with a free and his first from play but a massive score from Kearney kept Derry in touch.
However Derry only had two more scores for the remainder of the game while Kerry’s experience as All-Ireland champions showed.
Mark O’Connor, who was part of last year’s winning side, was introduced off the bench and when Foley slotted their goal in the 38th minute they pushed on for victory.
Kerry: B Courtney; D Brosnan, J Foley, J Morgan; G White, M Breen, D O’Brien; A Barry (0-01), JM Foley (0-02); B Ó Seanacháin, S O’Shea, B Barrett; M Foley (1-03), B Sweeney, C Geaney capt) (0-05, 0-03f).
Subs: T O’Sullivan for White (17-18 mins), M O’Connor for Breen (39), T O’Sullivan for Brosnan (39), S O’Sullivan for Barrett (46), E Cronin for O’Shea (56).
Derry: C Mullan-Young; N Keenan, C McGrogan, C Maunsell (1-00); O Duffin, M McEvoy, E Concannon; P Kearney, J Doherty; P Coney, S Downey, C Glass (capt) (0-01, 0-01f); T Flanagan, F Kearney (0-02), S McGuigan (0-02, 0-01f).
Subs: N McAtamney (0-01) for Kearney (HT), G McLaughlin for Duffin (35 mins), F Higgins for Maunsell (41), B Grant for Coney (41), S Higgins for McGuigan (black card, 48).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
