(After extra-time)
Kerry left it late but they got there in the end. Three goals in the second period of extra-time saw the Munster champions get past Roscommon in a thrilling All-Ireland U20 football championship semi-final in Thurles.
The result means Kerry will get a chance to avenge last year's All-Ireland semi-final defeat and the 2024 final loss to Tyrone.
Having taken a six-point lead, 0-08 to 0-02, at half-time of the regulation hour, Kerry saw that lead whittled away by Roscommon who kicked the last seven points to draw level, 0-11 apiece and force extra-time.
Kerry again took the lead at the break, 0-15 to 0-12, before goals from Daniel Kirby, Paddy Lane and Tomas Kennedy finally broke Roscommon’s resolve to get back to the final and a chance to finally get one over on Tyrone.
After Kerry scored six unanswered points in the first half to take a 0-8 to 0-2 lead to half time, Roscommon roared back in the fourth quarter with seven points without reply to level it up at 0-11 apiece and send the game to extra-time.
Lane, Kirby and Kerry senior Kennedy accounted for 3-10 between them, while they got three important points from their bench.
For Roscommon, John McGuinness and Charlie O'Carroll carried the fight for the Rossies but they simply ran out of legs in extra-time.
In a week when Roscommon football continued to ride the crest of a wave with Connacht senior and minor titles being added to the Under-20 provincial crown, this was a defeat to take some of the wind out of their collective sails.
For Kerry and manager Tomás Ó Sé, the result will be met with a mixture of relief and realisation that this is just another step on their way to what they really want: a first All-Ireland U-20/21 title since 2008.
Kerry: Kacper Robak, Michael Lynch, Gearóid Evans, Dara Stack, Eoin O’Flaherty, Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich, Pa Walsh, Evan Boyle, Daniel Kirby (1-03), Jack O’Sullivan (0-01), Gearóid White (0-03, 1tp), Mark O’Carroll, Ronan Carroll, Tomás Kennedy (1-03), Paddy Lane (1-04, 2f).
Subs: Sean Ó Cuinn for M O’Carroll (41), Máirtín McKivergan (0-01) for P Walsh (47), Dara Hogan 0-1 for R Carroll (52), David Sargent for E O’Flaherty (57), Jack Joy (0-01) for J O’Sullivan (60+4), Paudie Finucane for E Boyle (inj, 66), John Curtin for G White (et, 74), Isaac Brosnan for D Stack (et, 76)
Roscommon: Patrick Gaynor (0-01 45); Diarmuid O’Higgins, Michael Gillooly, Nikita Birzins; Keelan Kelly, Eoghan Carthy, Colin Murray; Niall Heneghan (0-01), Cathal Enright; Cathal McKeon, Dean Casey (0-01), Eoin Collins; John Curran, Charlie O’Carroll (0-06, 2tpf, 2f), John McGuinness (0-04).
Subs: Ruairi Kilcline (0-03, 1f) for J Curran (37), Declan Kennedy for C McKeon (39), Kevin Hester for D Casey (49), David Higgins for E Collins (51), Stephen Tighe for C O’Carroll (60+2), Conor Grogan (0-01) for C Murray (et), Liam Finneran for D O’Higgins (et), Dean Casey for S Tight (et, ht), Charlie O’Carroll for D Kennedy (et, 75)
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
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