FOR THE FIRST time since 1979, the same two counties contest both All-Ireland football finals — but would today belong to Kerry or Donegal?
First up Donegal’s youngsters had a chance to make history in the county’s first-ever minor final. Kerry have won 11 titles at the grade but it has been 20 long years since the Tom Markham Cup resided in the Kingdom.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the action. Email niall@thescore.ie, tweet @TheScoreGAA, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
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More than four months after the first ball was kicked in Gaelic Park, New York, it’s All-Ireland football final day.
For the first time since 1979 the same two counties contest both finals which means that before Donegal and Kerry go head-to-head in a hugely anticipated senior decider at 3.30pm, the minors take centre stage.
Throw-in is at 1.15pm.
Here’s the Kerry team as named earlier this week:
1 Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2 Dan O’Donoghue (Spa)
3 Brian Ó Beaglaioch (An Ghaeltacht)
4 Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
5 Brian Sugrue (Renard)
6 Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil)
7 Cormac Coffey (Kerins O’Rahillys)
8 Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
9 Mark O’Connor (Dingle)
10 Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
11 Brian Rayel (Lispole)
12 Matthew Flaherty (Dingle)
13 Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
14 Liam Kearney (Spa, capt)
15 Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
Two late changes to the Donegal team: Eoin Bán Gallagher and Ethan O’Donnell both start.
1 Danny Rodgers (An Clochán Liath)
2 Danny Monagle (Carn Domhnach)
3 Ciarán Gillespie (Gaoth Dobhair)
4 Colm Kelly (Aodh Ruadh BAS)
5 Stephen McMenamin (Aodh Rua Killygordan)
6 Tony McCleneghan (Bun an Phobail)
7 Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair)
25 Eoin Bán Gallagher (Na Cealla Beaga)
9 Caolán McGonagle (Bun Crannacha)
10 Stephen McBrearty (Cill Chartha)
11 Lorcán Connor (Na Dúnaibh)
12 Micheál Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair)
13 Jamie Brennan (Bun Dobhráin)
14 John Campbell (Bun Crannacha)
17 Ethan O’Donnell (Naomh Conaill)
Donegal 0-1 Kerry 0-1: 3 mins – Donegal strike first through Jamie Brennan but Matthew Flaherty levels for Kerry.
Kerry 0-2 Donegal 0-1: 5 mins – Killian Spillane kicks an easy free into the Canal End.
Kerry 0-2 Donegal 0-2: 7 mins – Stephen McBrearty kicks his first of the afternoon to level things up.
Kerry 0-3 Donegal 0-3: 11 mins – Caolan McGonagle puts Donegal in front with a free before they have a scare at the other end. Matthew Flaherty and Liam Kearney have a goal chance for Kerry but they’re crowded out.
Micheál Burns eventually points to square things up.
Kerry 0-4 Donegal 0-3: 13 mins – Superb score by Barry O’Sullivan after Shane Ryan made a relfex save to deny Donegal a goal at the other end.
Kerry 0-5 Donegal 0-4: 15 mins – Micheál Burns kicks his second of the day for the Kingdom but Stephen McBrearty, who was superb in the semi-final win over Dublin, steadies the ship with a score from the Cusack Stand side.
Kerry 0-6 Donegal 0-4: 16 mins – “The Dancer” Tomás Ó Sé wriggles free from the Donegal defence and turns to point. Kerry two up as we reach the halfway point in this first half.
Kerry 0-6 Donegal 0-5: 20 mins – Donegal wing-back Cian Mulligan has already found himself in some good attacking positions and this time he floats over a fine point off the left boot.
22 mins – Caolan McGonagle has a chance to level it for Donegal but it’s left and wide. Kerry keeper Shane Ryan is penalised for taking a short kick-out but his defenders get a hand on the throw ball and scramble it clear.
Kerry 0-7 Donegal 0-5: 24 mins – Donegal have started to get on top in midfield without really making it count on the scoreboard.
At the other end, Killian Spillane kicks a beautiful point — that’s his second of the day.
Kerry 0-8 Donegal 0-5: 26 mins – Make that three for Spillane! He points an easy free after some brilliant running by Micheal Burns draws a free from the Donegal defence.
Kerry 0-8 Donegal 0-6: 27 mins – Full forward John Campbell points a free to bring Donegal back within two.
28 mins – Two great chances for Kerry to stretch their lead before the break but Matthew Flaherty and Michael Burns are off-target.
HALF TIME: Kerry 0-8 Donegal 0-6
Donegal line up a free to end the first half but it drops short. Kerry lead by two at the break.
Back in five.
SECOND HALF: We’re back up and running with Kerry attacking a Hill 16 end packed with the green and gold… of Donegal fans.
Kerry 0-9 Donegal 0-6: 33 mins – Kerry sub Jordan Kiely swings over a point to get the second half started. Can Donegal reel Kerry in?
Kerry 0-10 Donegal 0-6: 35 mins – Donegal have a sight on goal but Lorcan Connor is denied. Barry O’Sullivan points at the other end to put four between them.
Kerry 0-11 Donegal 0-7: 39 mins – Killian Spillane sticks a free between the Hill 16 uprights. He’s been on the money so far today.
Kerry 0-11 Donegal 0-8: 43 mins – John Campbell points to keep Donegal in touch. They’re not going away you know.
WHAT A CHANCE! Jamie Brennan thunders a shot off the Kerry post. Donegal very nearly level there.
Kerry 0-12 Donegal 0-8: 44 mins – Great work by Liam Carey and Jordan Kiely points. Has Donegal’s chance been and gone?
45 mins – Well played, Shane Ryan! A long Donegal free drops on the edge of his square and he rises above the bodies to fist it to safety.
Kerry 0-13 Donegal 0-8: 49 mins – Scór den scoth by Liam Carey as they say on TG4.
Kerry 0-14 Donegal 0-8: 50 mins – Kerry keeper Shane Ryan might fancy himself as the next Stephen Cluxton. He points a long free and Donegal need a late miracle here.
Kerry sub: Stephen O’Sullivan for Tomas O Se.
GOAL FOR DONEGAL! Kerry 0-14 Donegal 1-8 (Brennan, 51′) What about that from Donegal? The ball drops over Tom O’Sullivan’s head, Brennan gathers and this time he makes no mistake, finishing across Ryan into the far corner.
Kerry 0-14 Donegal 1-9: 51 mins – Donegal captain Niall Harley points. Game well and truly on, Ger.
SAVE! Donegal should be in front but Ryan gets down brilliantly to deny Lorcan Connor. Too straight from the Donegal lad.
Kerry 0-14 Donegal 1-10: 54 mins – One-point game now, incredibly. McGonagle wins a free and Connor points it!
Incredible athleticism from Donegal keeper Danny Rodgers. Shane Ryan’s free is practically over the bar but he gets up to snatch it and deny his opposite number.
Kerry 0-16 Donegal 1-10: 59 mins – Jordan Kiely points, and that could be crucial. Donegal need a goal now and time’s running out.
Kerry 0-17 Donegal 1-10: 60+1 mins – And surely it is Kerry’s day! Killian Spillane puts four between the sides with just over 60 seconds to play.
Superb entertainment and it’s Kerry’s day. They are minor champions for the first time in 20 years!
Man of the match Micheal Burns: “We’ve waited 20 years for this. I knew at the start of the year that this would be the group of lads to bring it back to Kerry.”
So that’s it – congrats to Jack O’Connor and the Kerry minors.
Now, can the Kingdom make it a famous double? Join Fintan O’Toole here for all the build-up and live coverage of the senior decider between Kerry and Donegal.
Always the victim.
@@Kevinro1980: has a bright future ahead of him in RTÉ along with the rest of the whingers
Wexford need him now to move on. Wexford have just been knocked out of the championship and all he can talk about is his home county. He is not explaining why Wexford were 11 points down after 20 minutes.
@Jim Moran: Thats what you do when you want to deflect & Davy thinks he is fooling everyone but the good hurling people know exactly what’s going on.
And he can always leave given that he is doing the voluntary and concentrate on his other job. Nudge, Nudge.
@Jim Moran: it’s not about Wexford it’s about Davy! That’s the point he’s making, but I feel it’s also the problem! Hard luck to them, Wexford and Davy, but for Wexford it might be time to cut their losses and for Davy maybe time to take a break from something that’s causing so much angst. I mean it would be different if it was a job and he was getting massively paid for it, but sure he isn’t* and well he’s tried his best so hardly forced out of employment because of it and can’t provide because he’s only getting expenses he’s hardly being paid for it. Maybe he should take a break and come back again somewhere.
He’d wither you.
Well done to Clare, hard luck Wexford.
@Derek Braddish: suppose it’s not nice if you and your family is always getting abuse
@Eoin Fitzgerald: not nice I agree. But Davy is far from the angel that he likes to project.
@Derek Braddish: You’re dead right that davy is no angel but it’s so wrong all the abuse he is receiving. Just think if that was you and your family getting the constant abuse. It would be horrible. I feel sorry for Davy on this one.
That was a long aul rant, so it was.
@Michéal Ó Tuama: 110%
Give it a rest Davey. Your not helping yourself.
He’s supposed to be Wexford manager… about a 10 minute rant on clare
@Padjo Mulk: so true, sounded like he was doing a job interview!!!!
@Padjo Mulk: think Clare scored about 1-7 during that rant. Family abuse aside which is despicable, he doesn’t himself does he.
Man likes the stage
Davy doesn’t seem to understand the difference between criticism and abuse. A county board that sends a minor team out to get a 40 point defeat in a championship game definitely deserves to be criticised. An abundance of criticism does not make it abuse
Davey has been a disaster for Wexford. He’s wasted the best group of players that the county has had in a long time with his negative tactics. His focus seems to have been on what was going on in his native county , and on himself, instead of the job in hand.
@Leonard O’mahony: stop talking rubbish watch when Davy exits you will see the same slop as for last 20yrs coming out of Wexford again . Always dark horses can pull it out of the bag on occasions .
@DB: still. For the amount of money stumped to pay him. You’d expect more.
Here’s a novel idea. Now if may be far fetched as it’s a new idea think it’s called a mobile phone but why can’t Davy ring Brian Lohan. Instead of waiting for someone else to set up a meeting
@Diarmuid #STAYATHOME: Not dramatic enough for Davy.
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: lol
@Diarmuid #STAYATHOME: True story!! Poor Davey, bring on the violins!!
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh: it’s the fair city Christmas special, they’ll bump into each other in the pub, hug and make up and then Mrs Brown will come out and they’ll all go outside on the street holding hands and the snow starts do you not know how these things pan put, oh no you don’t…
Davy Mourinho
@Clevie Sal: Jose Fitz!
@Eoin Fitzgerald: solid 5-4-3-2-1 formation today with the false-13 playing in the pockets. Handy sweeper-keeper a la Allison played his part. They need a strong number 9, like Drogba, to play those defence-splitting sliotars around the corners and along the gullys. Wexford have to splash the cash now and get in a proper manager and scouting network to take them to the next level. Nowhere near Champions League standard.
If you don’t like standing in s h i t Davey then don’t drag it to your door.
@John Hayes: Are you part of the mob he’s referring to ?
My family and I…
Which team was he manageing,im confused
Way to always make it about yourself Davy. It’s a wonder teams get sick of him
GAA culture is painful
@WJH: You don’t like Irish culture, fair enough.
Davy and Brian should do call out videos on YouTube like the travellers.
The same old bluster when he has his teams set up so defensively. Wexford look an absolute shambles of an outfit.
@Fergus McGrath: still only lost by three
@Dec Breen: still lost
It was a fair warm day in fairness it would make anyone have a rant.
but he doesn’t want to talk about it
@Kevin Shortall: He took a long time saying he doesn’t want to talk about it!!
A compulsive liar
Come on Davy, your deflecting from the fact that your team were down 11 points after a few minutes and then went on to lose again, like can you not deal with the matcj that’s on today and not gaa politics in your own county
Fergie and Mourinho could take lessons from Davy on how to deflect attention from a defeat.
He just got offered Dublin Hurling Manager
Job
100k plus ..Bye Bye Wexford …Hello Dublin ..Much .
Money for The Money Monster
@Brendan Deegan: I hope he doesn’t come to Dublin. I know we have a ways to go yet to be competitive at the highest level. I just don’t think Davy would be the coach to bring us there.
@Brendan Deegan: Dublin have a fine manager,slap whoever filled you with that horseshxte.
Good man Davy.
Aw poor poor Davey! Bring on the violins!!
Can someone explain to me what this is about please
Snowflake
I’d say most people have had enough of his whinging by now . This is like the needle was stuck in a long playing record . That stuff has little to do with Wexford getting beaten . Of course that other Clare Man give him the platform to whinge again. Time for him to give up that Management, it doesn’t siut him .
You ok hun?? Gimme a call ttyl xxx
Stop Davy. Have a cuppa and relax
In my opinion any team that Davy coaches are on a hiding to nothing unless they are Clare. Who would want him as a manager when he is always rooting for and supporting a different team? One of the requirements as a manager of any team is that the team you coach come first before other teams. Davy is a Clare man and that’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with that but he can’t be an ambassador for a different county, he just isn’t able.
He would give an Aspro a headache
Davy talking about himself again, what a shocker.
Well said. There is absolutely no need for the abuse.
Next dublin manager. Now theres a heart attack waiting to happen.
The man is useless always complaining and making himself out to be the victim
Time to get the fiddle out again.