Sligo qualified for their first ever All-Ireland under-20 football final when they scored a dramatic and thoroughly deserved win over Kerry in an exciting semi-final at Pearse Stadium.
Sligo laid the foundations in the opening half when they held Kerry to six points, hitting 1-03 themselves, having played against the wind.
And they did enough after the restart to push on and reach next weekend's final against Down or Kildare, having only won their first Connacht title in the grade last year.
Kerry opted to play with the strong breeze in the opening half and were in trouble when they went in level at the break with the big Sligo following on their feet as the sides left the pitch.
Sligo, who had to line out without ill Connacht final hero Dillon Walsh, did well against the breeze despite losing their captain and midfielder Canice Mulligan to injury after just nine minutes.
By then Kerry wing-forward Rob Monahan had got the Munster side off the mark with a point off either foot in the opening five minutes before corner-forward Ronan Niland opened Sligo's account after ten minutes.
Luke Crowley responded for Kerry but then Niland, after exchanging a pass with full-forward Daire O’Boyle, drilled home an excellent goal low into the left corner of the net for a 1-01 to 0-03 lead after 13 minutes.
Kerry struggled to penetrate the Sligo defence and when William Shine levelled with a free, the Connacht champions responded when Luke Marren landed a free from 25 metres.
Keith Evans levelled for Kerry and when Marren added another free, Shine ensured they went in level at the interval when he pointed a 20-metre free in stoppage time.
James Donlon edged Sligo in front after the restart but efforts from Cian McMahon and Shine put Kerry 0-08 to 1-04 in front after 45 minutes.
Kerry enjoyed plenty of possession but struggled to create chances and Sligo hit the next three scores, from Dylan Walsh, Marren and sub Brian Byrne, to lead 1-07 to 0-08 seven minutes from time.
Shine cut the gap to the minimum four minutes from the end, but a Daire O'Boyle point extended Sligo’s lead and they held on for their first ever underage championship win over Kerry.
They will now look to secure a first ever All-Ireland crown next weekend, having never tasted glory at senior, minor or U21/U20 level.
Sligo: Ethan Carden; Ross Chambers, Conor Johnston , Luke Casserly; Dylan Walsh (0-01, 0-01 ’45), Dylan McLoughlin, Rossa Sloyan; Conor Sheridan, Canice Mulligan; Mark McDaniel, James Donlon (0-01, 0-01m), Ross Doherty; Luke Marren (0-03, 0-03f), Daire O’Boyle (0-01), Ronan Niland (1-01).
Subs: Joshua Flynn for Mulligan (9), Robert O’Kelly Lynch for McDaniel (50), Brian Byrne (0-01) for Donlon (50), Conor McMorrow for Flynn (60), James Kiernan for Niland (62).
Kerry: Kieran Mackessy; Cian O’Donoghue, Andrew Moynihan, Joey Nagle; Killian O’Sullivan, Armin Heinrich, Paudie O’Leary; Cillian Burke, Caolán O’Connell; Rob Monahan (0-02), Jack Clifford, Keith Evans (0-01); Cian McMahon (0-01), William Shine (0-04, 0-03f), Luke Crowley (0-01).
Subs: Dara O’Callaghan for Moynihan (ht), Cian Lynch for O’Sullivan (ht), Aaron O’Shea for Clifford (44), Thomas O’Donnell for McMahon (52), Adam Segal for O’Connell (55).
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone).
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