2020 Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC semi-final: Derry 1-14 Meath 1-7
DERRY powered their way to the 2020 All-Ireland minor final with an impressive second-half performance to account for a highly-fancied Meath side on Saturday in Newry.
When Eoghan Frayne scored from the rebound, after Derry goalkeeper Kian McGonigle saved his 35th minute penalty, the Royals were 1-4 to 0-5 ahead.
It seemed to flick a switch in the minds of the Ulster champions, who romped their way to a deserved seven-point win.
Derry had their defensive match-ups dished out to perfection. Eoin McEvoy went to full-back where he held star man Frayne scoreless from play. Ruairi Kinsella was the only Meath forward to score from play and his marker Lee Brady offered every bit as much going forward to win that duel.
Conor Caulfield was another Meath star, but Jody McDermott shaded that battle too and it all tipped the scales in Derry's favour.
The Oak Leafers were fortunate when Meath midfielder Conor Gray limped off after 11 minutes, but they trailed 0-3 to 0-1 after the first water break.
By that stage, Derry began to vary their kick-outs and when they when short twice it helped them orchestrate points from McDermott and Connor Shiels that helped them go in at half-time level at 0-4 each.
Derry had spurned 1-7 in the first-half, but it was a more settled Ulster side that emerged for the second-half.
Skipper Matthew Downey gave an exhibition in how to play at centre forward, playing with his head up. He was the puppet master for Martin Boyle's side.
Towering midfielder Dan Higgins plucked three inspirational marks from the clouds, while Donncha Gilmore and Patrick O'Kane went through a power of unseen work in the midfield battle zone.
There was a better structure to the Derry attack, with Lachlan Murray tormenting them all afternoon. He won three frees in the third quarter that gave Meath's defence plenty to ponder.
When Frayne found the net, Derry owned the rest of the game. Downey (0-2) and Mark Doherty popped over points to put Derry ahead, 0-8 to 1-4, after 40 minutes.
Meath's long kick-outs were a feature of the game and it led to a point for Mark Coffey to tie the game. But that's as good as it got for Meath.
The sight of Adam McGonigle burst out of defence, Dan Higgins plucking kick-outs and Matthew Downey running the show took Derry to another level, with Eoin McEvoy keeping star man Frayne on the periphery.
Just before the water break a Calum Downey block led to a goal for Dan Higgins, putting Derry 1-9 to 1-5 and well on their way to the final.
Meath wing-back Adam McDonnell notched two points late on. Even then they launched a high missile into the Derry box, late on, Higgins made a massive brilliant catch to ease any chances of a late goal.
Lachlan Murray had a late chance saved, but had the composure to tag on a point to put the icing on the cake.
Derry will play the winners of Sunday's other semi-final between Kerry and Roscommon in this weekend's decider.
Derry: K McGonigle; A McGonigle, E McEvoy, C Shiels (0-1); D Gilmore, P McGurk, L Brady; D Higgins (1-0), P O'Kane; M Doherty (0-2), M Downey (0-8, 0-5 frees), J McDermott (0-1); C Diamond (0-1f), L Murray (0-1), N O'Donnell
Subs: C Downey for J McDermott (40), R McEldowney for C Diamond (59), J Moore for N O'Donnell (63)
Yellow card: E McEvoy (57)
Meath: B Hogan; B Moran, L Kelly, O Kelly; A McDonnell (0-2), B Donnelly, C Caulfield; S Emmanuel (0-1), C Gray; R Kinsella (0-1), J McDonagh (0-1f), M Coffey; A Bowden, E Frayne (1-1, 1f), L Stafford (0-1)
Subs: A Murphy for C Gray (INJ 11), S O'Donoghue for O Kelly (36), G Ehichoya for R Kinsella (53), D Commons for L Stafford (59), J Kinlough for J McDonagh (59)
Black card: B Moran (53)
Yellow card: R Kinsella (45)
Referee: B Judge (Sligo)
