2017 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship:
Derry v Kerry: Paths to the final
Derry
Ulster MFC quarter-final, May 28
Derry 0-18 Tyrone 1-14
IN a game of two halves, Derry improved markedly after half-time to just get past Tyrone.
The Red Hands led at the break by three points and that lead could have been greater but for some errant shooting. Derry midfielder Oisin McWilliams was the star performer on show, and he was dominant in the centre of the field as well as kicking four points off both feet.
A dominant third quarter display, when they kicked six of the first eight scores was the catalyst for seeing Derry over the line. PT Cunningham converted a late penalty for Tyrone, but Derry held on.
Ulster MFC semi-final, June 18
Derry 3-17 Antrim 0-9
DERRY were much too good for the Saffrons as they ran out 16-point winners to reach a third Ulster final in as many years. 25 minutes had elapsed before Antrim got a score, by which time Derry had already put up 1-5, with Conor McCluskey hitting a penalty.
After the break, the Antrim youngsters did manage to get a foothold in the contest, but the coup de grace was administered by
Swatragh man Oisin McWilliams who scored two late goals to set up Ulster final and All-Ireland quarter-final appearances.
Ulster MFC final, July 16
Derry 1-22 Cavan 2-12
IN a repeat of the 2015 Ulster final, Derry were deserved four point winners of the Fr Murray Cup for the second time in three years. Man-of-the-match was captain Padraig McGrogan, who acted as an effective sweeper for Damian McErlain’s side in the second half.
Derry raced into an early lead, hitting four points without reply, and although their opponents drew level when James Smith netted and Oran Hartin pointed for Cavan, the young Oak Leafers responded with seven of the next eight points.
Ben McCarron scored Derry’s goal with eighteen minutes remaining, and although Cavan fought hard, Derry had a comfortable cushion.
All-Ireland MFC quarter-final, August 5
Derry 1-13 Sligo 0-15
DERRY were extremely wasteful in this game, kicking 17 wides in total, and needed a 43rd minute Richie Mullan goal as well as a late Patrick Quigg free to keep their All-Ireland bid intact. Sligo, with Red-Óg Murphy kicking 11 points in all, drew level with an under-par Derry following two late Murphy frees, before Quigg had the last say.
Sligo will feel that they let this one slip away from them.
They led by four at the break, but Derry, who had been missing influential defenders Simon McErlain and Conor McCloskey in the first half, were better on the resumption, with Mullan’s goal a pivotal score.
All-Ireland MFC semi-final, August 27
Derry 0-17 Dublin 0-14
DERRY clinched this game, and a place in the All-Ireland final, with a strong finish that saw them score seven of the last nine points of the contest. In what was an open, enjoyable affair,
Derry led by three in the 11th minute, only for Dublin to grow into the game and at the break they led by a point.
The Dubs then moved two in front mid way through the second period with the dangerous James Doran to the fore. But Derry were not to be denied and added further scores from Lorcan McWilliams, Richie Mullan and Ben McCarron to seal the deal.
Kerry
Munster MFC quarter-final, April 12
Kerry 2-16 Clare 1-6
KERRY dismissed Clare with this routine win in Tralee.
With the score already reading 2-10 to 1-0 at the interval, they could even afford to go 19 minutes of the second half without troubling the umpires. David Clifford and Donal O’Sullivan shared 2-10 between them.
There is plenty to admire in this Kerry team, and on this occasion, two of their other impressive performers were their midfield duo of Barry Mahony and Diarmuid O’Connor, who took some fine catches.
But profligacy at times in front of goal was also a feature of Kerry’s play.
Munster MFC semi-final, May 10
Kerry 2-17 Cork 1-10
MAN-of-the-match David Clifford helped himself to 2-8, with 2-5 coming from play, as Kerry out-classed their fierce rivals.
Kerry’s play was characterised by their brilliant kick-passing, and by the tenacious nature of their defending, with Cork struggling to find a way to unpick the locks. Clifford’s first goal showed that for all the silky skills, he also has raw power and resolution in spades.
Collecting the ball close to the square, he shrugged aside the close marking to rifle the ball to the net. Cork were game, and although Kerry ‘keeper Deividas Uosis saved a second half penalty from David Gore, its conversion would have made little difference.
Munster MFC final, July 2
Kerry 2-21 Clare 0-3
VICTORIES are seldom as bloodless as this as Kerry beat Clare again to claim a fifth Munster title on-the-trot while barely breaking sweat.
Although David Clifford kicked six points from open play, it was Donal O’Sullivan who grabbed the headlines with his haul of 2-7.
Clare actually took the lead in the first minute, but did not get another score from play for the entire game. Kerry, in the opening period, were not at their best, which seems odd when the half-time score read 0-10 to 0-2 in their favour.
Had they been fully tuned in, the thrashing would have been of an even greater magnitude.
All-Ireland MFC quarter-final, August 5
Kerry 1-22 Louth 2-9
THIS was a 22nd win on the bounce for the Kerry minors who did not have to be at their best to win comfortably. 1-6 in a nine minute spell in the first quarter, including a goal from Donnachadh O’Sullivan, laid the foundation for the win.
Diarmuid O’Connor and Barry Mahony were once again dominant at midfield, and the moving of Brian Friel to centre half forward was also instrumental. When Eoin Callaghan scored Louth’s second goal just after half-time, Kerry only led by five points.
But with Fiachra Clifford then pointing twice, the Munster and All-Ireland champions eased away again.
All-Ireland MFC semi-final, August 20
Kerry 2-22 Cavan 2-10
KERRY set up the chance to be the first county to win four consecutive All-Ireland minor titles with this 12-point win.
The winners, save for a rally from Cavan in the third quarter when they scored an unanswered 1-5 to cut a 13 point gap to five, always looked in command and David Clifford contributed 1-10 in all, with 1-7 coming from play.
He also set up Kerry’s other goal scored by sub Jack Griffin. Brian Friel was also excellent for Kerry, hitting four points from play, while nine of the Kingdom youngsters got their names on the score sheet.
