We went minute-by-minute and, as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. Leave a comment below, tweet @thescore_ie,post a message to our Facebook wall.
Full-time, Dublin 3-12 Kerry 1-10:
Welcome to Croke Park for the All Ireland minor semi-final between Dublin and Kerry. The Leinster champions are not only heavily favoured today but for an All Ireland with Meath awaiting the winners. Indeed Kerry have lost not once but twice to Tipperary this championship yet are still in the reckoning. There’s barely a handful in the stadium but it’s a perfect day here, 17c at present with blue skies and it’s expected to heat up as the afternoon progresses.
Here are the teams…
Dublin – Lorcan Molloy; Emile Mullen, David Byrne, Ross McGowan; Eric Lowndes, Conor Mulally, Maitias Mac Donncha; Stephen Cunningham, Shane Carthy; Niall Walsh, Niall Scully, Gavin Burke; Cormac Costello, David Campbell, Robbie Gaughan.
Kerry – Gavin Ó Curráin, Cathal O’Luing, Gavin Crowley, Patrick O’Connor, Brian Crowley, Ronan Murphy, Greg Horan, Kieran Murphy, Jack Barry, David Foran, Jack Savage, Cillian Fitzgerald, Eanna O’Conchuir, Niall Sheehy, Conor Keane Ó Cathain.
1 minute, Dublin o-1, Kerry 0-0: Great start from Dublin, full of intent, they take a kickable free short to Cormac Costello who points on the turn.
3 minute, Dublin o-3, Kerry 0-0: Dublin are moving the ball well inside and Niall Scully doubles their lead. And that’s a brilliant point from Shane Carthy coming from deep. Ominous stuff.
7 minute, Dublin 1-4, Kerry 0-0: Game over as Conor McHugh goals. That was too easy and Kerry just aren’t matching up man for man. Dublin look to have the beating of their marker inside and only a foul stops Eric Lowndes getting though. McHugh converts the free.
10 minutes, Dublin 1-4 Kerry 0-3: Jack Savage gets Kerry on the board with a well taken free and that’s followed up by David Foran and Niall Sheehy. Much more belief and intent from Kerry there, they look good in the inside-forward line but how much ball they’ll get will be key as they look small beside this Dublin team around the middle.
21 minutes, Dublin 1-5 Kerry 0-3: Maitias MacDonncha ends Dublin’s brief slump. They aren’t dominating like they were in the opening minutes, but still look to have the upper hand from the half-back line going forward. Questions marks over the full-back line though as Kerry are winning plenty of ball close to goal.
27 minutes, Dublin 2-6 Kerry 0-4: Horrible goal for Kerry to concede just as they looked to find a footing in this game. Far too easy for Cormac Costello who picked the ball up way out on the touchline, beat his man and went all the way to the edge of the square where he finished. He did more than well in fairness, but Kerry’s defence was wide open and lacked physicality. On a sidenote, Hill 16 beginning to fill up and they cheer a wide at the other end. No need for that in a minor game. Meanwhile Kerry substitute with Denis Daly coming on for Eanna O Conchuir, son of Jack. Gavin Burke pops up as he arrives on the field and kicks a close-range point but Daly responds.
29 minutes, Dublin 2-6 Kerry 0-5: Another one back for Kerry through David Foran but he had goal on his mind. They could do with one, even at this relatively early stage.
Half-time, Dublin 2-6 Kerry 0-4: Comfortable for Dublin and those goals mean this has the look of a game that’s already over. Kerry’s defence has been far too open and lacked intensity and it’s a long way back from here. We’ll be back after the break.
32 minutes, Dublin 2-7 Kerry 0-6: Back on here and the teams are after trading scores. Niall Sheehy with a free for Kerry,and Costello adds to his tally for Dublin. He’s having a great game.
36 minutes, Dublin 2-8 Kerry 0-7: Score of the game from Kerry centre-back Ronan Murphy. He swung that over with the outside of the boot with minimum fuss. Good start to the half by the Munster side but you feel they’ll need goals if they are to get back into this. Not a great game in fairness with little pattern although back come Dublin and Shane Carthy nails a 45.
40 minutes, Dublin 2-8 Kerry 1-7: Big moment and it’s game on. Kerry break with numbers from midfield, Cillian Fitzgerald is the man over and from 21 yards and in space he shoots into the bottom corner. Dublin’s response will be interesting.
45 minutes, Dublin 2-8 Kerry 1-8: Robert Gaughan comes off the Dublin team and Shane Cunningham is on for the corner-forward but all he can do is watch as Conor Keane points at the other end. Plenty of time left for a comeback but this has been as much about Dublin falling off the pace as Kerry getting up to speed.
50 minutes, Dublin 2-9 Kerry 1-10: Silly free for Kerry to give away, more so at such a crucial time as Ronan Murphy pulls Niall Scully down off the ball. It should have been an easy conversion for Cormac Costello but he sends it wide. Better on the next attack though as he feeds Scully for a score but back come Kerry with a Jack Savage free from close in on the right and then the left. Sean Moloney comes on for Kerry with Niall Sheehy making way while Niall Walsh is off for Dublin, Donal Gormley enters the game in his place.
53 minutes, Dublin 2-1o Kerry 1-10: Dublin hanging on here as the ball is cleared off the line after a move that was similar in nature to that which produced Kerry’s goal. Big moment as Shane Cunningham comes right back up the other end and scores. Instead of trailing for the first time, Dublin now up by a goal.
58 minutes, Dublin 3-11 Kerry 1-10: That score seems to have killed off the Kerry charge, and Conor McHugh adds an insurance point after a period of pressure. And now icing on the cake, great run from deep from Stephen Cunningham, he goes clean through, draws the keeper and feeds David Campbell who finishes to an empty net. Misleading scoreline somewhat, but Dublin are heading for the final.
Well done Ulster, great result.
Well done Ulster. A home fixture is deserved at this stage.
Well done ulster but after this result against an average side ulster fans think they’re going to win the world Cup and should have 15 players on the lions, it’s absolutely hilarious
@Michael Oats: what’s with the sour grapes? They got their deserved win and the fans are within their rights to celebrate and dream of big things. The Challenge Cup is not an easy competition to win either, the ruthless needed in the knock out stages is as ferocious as you’d expect and fair dues to Ulster for the win. As for players on the Lions that depends on Gats and what he wants from individuals fitting into HIS team, not the performance of Ulster as a team.
@Michael Oats: Michael, you need to get out a little more. Where did this come from? As. Leinster fan, I cheered them to the finish an celebrated a great performance. It augurs well for the future of both Ulster and Irish rugby. What was it Brendan Behan said about the begrudgers?
@SPQH: ah theres no sour grapes here. I actually like Dan mcfarland as a coach – has been very good everywhere he’s coached – and some of the players are alright club players too tbf. It’s the fans that make them out to be spartan warriors and world beaters after every game they win against poor opposition gets me in fits of laughter every time… On a side note “Gats” You know him personally do ya? Lol
@Michael Oats: you are a very embittered Musterman. I won’t call you a Munster supporter as they are fair-minded.
@Michael Oats: that’s a very odd comment to be making unprompted. Just say well done and ignore the chip on your shoulder
@Trevor Johnston: Munster Abu trev
@Michael Oats: why so bitter? That’s 2 away wins on the trot in England, and Saints are a decent side. It’s a great win and chance of a cup. And a couple of Lions is a possibility, don’t be so odd
@Michael Oats: They probably are the 2nd best province
@Trevor Johnston: he is probably just annoyed that if Ulster won silverware, Munster will be the only province not to have won a competition in the last decade.
@Michael Oats: troll harder
@Joe Vlogs: I rather we didn’t win a second rate trophy tbh. Challenge Cup against what? English teams rolling out second strings. Treviso were in the quarter final and agen were in the last 16, neither of those teams have won a game all year. But go on ulster have your day. Lol
@rugbyanbeer: this is the kind of fan I’m talking about. Hahaha
@Michael Oats: ulster play a great brand of rugby and have been the 2nd best side in the league and in Ireland for a while now. Some of their home grown talent are simply fantastic rugby players. You need to find a different sport if you can’t appreciate how ulster play rugby.
@Michael Oats: a) I’m not from Ulster b) I guess that explains why Munster don’t win anything…they don’t really want to, you know. Saving their tinder for the Rainbow cup or something serious like that.
Congratulations Ulster
Great win and have to say did not look likely at HT. Hope Lowrey learns a lot from that game for he is an exciting prospect. …..but he’s not going to suck in defenders and offload in the tackle very often and running up blind alleys gets him turned over like you would a baby in a cot. His strength is that he’s a space user not a space creator . Get him running off the shoulders of fellas that can take the hit and offload in the tackle and not sure 15 is suited to him…might be worth giving him a protracted run at 10. Played last night like a chap that has started to believe the hype. Some of his decision making was poor.
@Michael Murray: not his best game. Hopefully he will learn.
@Trevor Johnston: …looks every inch a footballer….I’m sure he will. Given he is such a unique package with incredible potential ,his coaches and mentors have a hell of a responsibility to help get the best out of himself and reach his full potential.
@Michael Murray: to be fair he is a 10 playing at 15. He has been impressive in general but these blips will happen
@Dave O Keeffe: I know and that makes it even more important that he’s looked after particularly well.
@Michael Murray: Super talented but because of his size has to be used properly. Has the skills for 10 but I doubt he’d be able for the hits Sexton has taken over the years.
FB would appear to be his best option. Wasn’t great yesterday but any player can have an off day.
After 2 away wins Ulster definitely deserve a home game. Great for Irish rugby if they can pull it off.