All-Ireland U20 football champions Tyrone are back in another final and on the hunt for a third successive title, but they had to endure some anxious moments before getting the better of Kildare by five points at Kingspan Breffni.
The Red Hands led by five after playing into a strong wind in the opening half, but the Leinster champions fought back to narrow the gap to a point, before the holders steadied the ship to pull away in the final quarter, sealing the win with a goal from substitute Darragh Donaghy.
Jimmy Lynch harnessed the strong wind to sweep over Kildare's opener, raising an orange flag from 45 metres, but Tyrone built patiently, and were level by the seventh minute, thanks to a couple of Adrian McGurren scores.
Peter Colton, last year’s minor Footballer of the Year, burst through a couple of tackles to edge the holders ahead, but the Leinster champions pressed the kick-out to gain territory, going level by the end of the opening quarter through Euan Cowzer.
Luke Neeson and Brian Gallagher stepped in with vital defensive challenges as the Lilywhites continued to dominate possession, pinning Tyrone back in their own half for long stretches.
But they survived to break for a point through wing back Aodhan Quinn, and now it was the Ulster champions with the momentum, Leo Hughes punching them two clear by the 22nd minute.
Top scorer Shea McDermott, unusually quiet until he produced an explosive blast, set the game alight as he smashed home a brilliant 29th minute goal off the underside of the crossbar.
Cowzer slotted his second of the evening, but Conor O’Neill sent the Red Hands in with a 1-06 to 0-04 interval lead.
Kildare registered three quick-fire scores at the start of the second half through Lynch, Colbert and Ronan Kelly as the moved the ball through the hands to find openings.
Colbert provided an effective link from defence to attack, and suddenly the Lilywhites had belief and a measure of cohesion they were unable to find in the opening period.
Lynch drilled a ’45 between the posts with the wind gusting in his face, and added a free to bring his side level in the 43rd minute.
The holders were clinging on to a slender one point lead going into the final quarter, thanks to a Conor O’Neill two-pointer. before substitute Darragh Donaghy made a stunning impact with his first touch, intercepting a kick-out to fire in his side’s second goal on 49 minutes.
Enda Donaghy restored the five-point lead, although there were anxious moments at the back, goalkeeper Oisin Watson denying Harry Redmond with a double save.
Tyrone: O Watson; S Broderick, L Neeson, M McNamee; A Quinn (0-02), C Devlin, B Gallagher; E Donaghy (0-01), C O’Neill (0-03, 1tp); C Sheehy, L Hughes (0-01), T Muldoon; A McGurren (0-02), P Colton (0-02), S McDermott (1-00).
Subs: D Donaghy (1-00) for Muldoon (46), D Devlin (0-01) for McGurren (52), R McCullagh for Hughes (57), A Colton for Sheehy (65)
Kildare: C Carroll; C McKevitt, L Kelly, S Gallagher; C Keaveny, F Dowling, B Ryan; E Boyle, R Lawlor; D Colbert (0-01), L Kenny, J Lynch (0-06, 1tp, 1 ’45, 1f); E Cowzer (0-02), C Moran, R Kelly (0-03, 1f).
Subs: R Murray (0-01) for McKevitt (50), C Keaveny for Cowzer (50), A Donegan for Kenny (55), H Redmond for Keaveny (55)
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).
Watch Dublin v Westmeath in the Leinster Football final (2pm) and Armagh v Monaghan in the Ulster Football final (4.15pm) on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
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