DERRY u-17 player Eoin McEvoy said that the crowd at O’Connor Park played a huge part in getting the Oak Leafers over the line in last weekend’s All-Ireland final.

Derry won their first All-Ireland Minor title in 19 years when they beat Kerry with an injury time penalty in Tullamore, scored by captain Matthew Downey.

McEvoy played centre half-back and was a true leader throughout the final and for much of the season. But he said he took inspiration from the crowd, despite their limited size because of Covid-19 restricitions.

“The crowd were amazing. They never gave up on us. When (Kerry) got a score they were still cheering us on. It was crazy the way they kept supporting us.

“There were only 500 there but they were very loud. They have been amazing all year.

“I think the lads just dug deep. We were seven-four down at half time. We thought we were playing the better football. We felt that if we were able to cut down the mistakes we could have won the game.”

McEvoy said that the performance in the second half was better. They cut out the mistakes and made sure of their passes and were better able to control the game. They missed a goal chance and we went up the field and got a goal from Lachlan (Murray), which was a real good goal.”

The final moments of the game were dramatic. Derry had been trailing at half time and battled back into the game. However, Kerry were in front at the end of normal time. There was still time for Derry to win a penalty and Downey stepped up to score it.

McEvoy said: “It is hard to put into words. The hard work of the last 18 months came down to the last five minutes of that game.”

The bond between Martin Boyle’s team has been important this year.

“We are a real good group. Everyone is friends with everyone else. Everyone talks to everyone else. There are no egos. There is no hierarchy. There is no ‘the starters only talk to starters’. That’s the best thing.”

McEvoy paid tribute to the management as well.

“They have been brilliant. Their attention to detail has been excellent. It is a huge credit to them. We wouldn’t have won it without them.”

Winning this final is especially important for the McEvoy family. Eoin’s brother Michael was centre half-back on the team that won the Ulster title in 2015.

“I was looking up to him. I wanted to be like him. That kick-started the thing for me. Now he is on the senior panel. It is great for Derry, with the seniors doing well. Hopefully the thing can push on with the u-20s.”

The celebrations after the win over Kerry were special for McEvoy and his team mates.

The team got a bus back to Derry that night, and McEvoy explained that he couldn’t believe the reception.

“We stopped at the Carrickdale and we went to Magherafelt and saw the crowd there. We stopped at Bradley’s Corner in Desertmartin and there were a crowd of people there. Then there was a big crowd in Ballinascreen. It was unbelievable.

“The magnitude of how big it is hasn’t sunk in yet.”

LEADER…Derry u-17 centre half-back Eoin McEvoy