Tyrone remain on course for a third All-Ireland Under-20 Football title in four years, after getting the better of Kerry in a repeat of last year's decider.
They’ll face either Mayo or Louth in the 2025 final, thanks to a performance built on defensive resilience at Laois Hire O’Moore Park that earned them a six points success.
And up front, their twin strike force, Loughmacrory duo Eoin McElholm and Ruairi McCullagh, delivered again.
In last year’s final, the pair shared a 0-12 haul, and this time they accounted for 1-13 of the winners’ total.
Tyrone’s attack threat was evident from the opening minute, when McElholm broke through to have a crack at goal. denied by Michael Tansley’s brilliant save, with McCullagh converting the resultant '45.
And the holders were 0-5 to 0-1 up by the end of the opening quarter, McCullagh adding another couple and McElholm curling over a free.
Kerry’s sole score in that period came from midfielder Daniel Kirby, their shot selection letting them down on several occasions.
But they did create a goal chance when Kirby sent Evan Boyle through, but full back Ben Hughes got a hand in to block the shot.
Direct long ball to full forward Tomas Kennedy began to pay dividends, and he won three frees which Paddy Lane converted.
They were now winning the scrap for possession around the middle through Kirby, Eddie Healy and Darragh O’Sullivan, with Killian Dennehy sending over a couple of scores as they picked off five in a row to close the gap to a point.
But the Ulster champions reasserted themselves, McCullagh converting a two-point free, before Conan Devlin sent Noah Grimes in to smash home their second goal on the half-hour.
They led by 2-8 to 0-9 at the interval, and it was in the second half that the Tyrone defence stood tall in the face of waves of attack, with Ben Hughes, Joey Clarke, Callum Daly and substitute Sean Broderick stepping in with vital challenges.
Nevertheless, the Munster champions, who had cruised through their provincial series, kept coming, with Kennedy always a threat up front and Kirby and Healy driving it from midfield.
Substitute Ronan Carroll scored with his first touch, and a couple of Lane frees narrowed the gap.
Ben Murphy broke through to fire in a shot that Red Hand ‘keeper Conan McGarvey kept out, and when Kennedy scored from the rebound, just three points separated the sides going into the final seven minutes.
But the champions were able to shut out the Kerry attack in those vital closing stages to turn defence to attack with impressive transition, hitting the last three points through McElholm and McCullagh (2).
Tyrone: C McGarvey; F Nelis, B Hughes, Conor Devlin; C Daly, J Clarke, C Donnelly, Conan Devlin, C O’Neill; C Sheehy, E McElholm (1-04, 0-01f), M Quinn; N Grimes (1-00), R McCullagh (0-09, 4f, 1tpf, 1’45), L Og Mossey.
Subs: S Broderick for Conor Devlin (23), S McDermott (0-01) for Grimes (48), E McDonagh for Sheehy (51), D Donaghy for Mossey (58)
Kerry: M Tansley; A O Beaglaoich, G Evans, M Lynch; L Evans, D O’Connor, B Murphy; E Healy (0-02), D Kirby (0-01); C Collins, E Boyle, K Dennehy (0-03); P Lane (0-06, 5f), T Kennedy (0-01), D O’Sullivan.
Subs: R Carroll (0-01) for Collins (42), E Daly for Boyle (46), J Murphy for O’Sullivan (55), J O’Sullivan for Kirby (57), O Ferris for Lane (58)
Referee: B Judge (Sligo).
