By Barry O’Donnell

TYRONE 1-15 KILDARE 1-12

THE good times keep on rolling for underage football in Tyrone as hot on the heels of the under-20s reaching a second successive All-Ireland Final, their Minor counterparts achieved the same feat on Friday night by virtue of a hard-fought win over Kildare at a rain-soaked Breffni Park.

Three points was the final margin of victory but in reality it should have been more with the two Matthew Dalys, Charlie Meenan, Aodhan Corry and James Maguire helping the Ulster champions establish a tight grip on the second half for the most part.

Yet an irritating failure to pop the ball over the bar- be it from play or placed balls- allowed the Lilywhites to cling on in there and that set up a nervy finale, with Tyrone working feverishly to prevent their opponents scrambling home an equalising goal.

The Leinster boys probably shaded the first period, but as so often in this campaign, the Red Hands were still able to chisel out a one point advantage at the turnaround (1-8 to 1-7). However as the heavens opened on the restart so they stamped a degree of control and composure on the exchanges to ensure they eventually progressed to the Markham Cup showdown in a fortnight’s time.

Despite the absence of injured captain Ciaran McCrystal there was a resilience and determination about the Tyrone defence during the first quarter, with the likes of Stewart, Aidan Farley, Tiernan McCarron and Aodhan Corry handing the Kildare attack little scope to express themselves.

Matthew F Daly blasted over a two pointer inside the opening minute to hand the reigning champions an early boost, though Eoghan Lyons quickly responded with a score at the other end for the Lilywhites.

Given the inclement weather earlier in the day, both sides struggled initially with ball handling, possession regularly turned over, but a fine throughball by Daly enabled Logan O’Connor to send an effort looping over the Kildare crossbar.

Having fed off scraps in the main from the get-go Kildare then swooped for an eighth minute goal. Jack Doran released Jack Reilly who scampered clear and having seen his initial shot parried by keeper Ronan O’Neill he made no mistake at the second time of asking.

Aidan Tobin then capped a sweeping Kildare move with an accurate finish as they eased two in front 1-2 to 0-3, though the Red Hands then passed up an opportunity to jump ahead. O’Connor embarked on an adventurous foray down the middle but he screwed his shot for goal wide of the target.

It didn’t take Tyrone long to eventually raise a green flag. Just before the quarter hour mark Meenan forced a terrific turnover and released F Daly, with the ball eventually switched to Conan Canavan for a smart low finish.

With F Daly then planting another sweet strike over the black spot shortly after, midfielder Tomas Gallen leading the charge, they had eased two in front, 1-4 to 1-2.

Kildare had put Kerry to the sword in the last round and they showed glimpses of their quality in a dynamic three minute spell in the run-up to the break, slotting over four consecutive points.

The lively Jack Reilly and Greg Kelly each casually popped over a brace of white flags, as they gained a productive return for pushing up on the Tyrone kick-outs. This tactic almost resulted in a goal too when sub Logan Tennyson scampered in along the endline but O’Neill was off his line sharply with the save.

This scare appeared to kickstart Tyrone again after a fairly soporific period. Brian McGuckin capitalised on a sprightly dart up the centre by Ruairi O’Neil to convert, and then McGuckin went one better with a thunderous two pointer.

The skilful Reilly quickly replied with a quality leveller but a fine strike by Matthew J Daly handed Tyrone that narrow cushion at half-time.

It required a brilliant block by Maguire to divert aside Lyons thunderbolt as Kildare sought to make hay on the resumption but an exchange of points between F Daly and Reilly were the only early scores.

An assured finish by McGuckin doubled Tyrone’s advantage yet Reilly then restored parity at 1-10 apiece with a beaut of a two pointer at the other end, and followed up with a single, just as the rain really began to pelt down.

Tyrone were started to dictate play especially around the middle, but all too often they were lacking the end product, with numerous opportunities going abegging.

Half-back Corry showed how it should be one with an admirable strike, having sold his man a dummy, and entering the last ten minutes F Daly eased his team narrowly ahead 1-12 to 1-11.

J Daly increased that cushion with a quality point but things were starting to get nervy and Kildare sub Tennyson saw his drilled effort deflected over the Tyrone bar.

A fisted F Daly score and injury time close ranger by sub Finbar Quinn put Tyrone three to the good and that proved sufficient to see them home despite the odd fright around their own square during the dying embers.

Scorers

Tyrone: Matthew F Daly (0-6,1tp), Conan Canavan (1-0), Brian Og McGuckin (0-4,1 tp), Matthew J Daly (0-2), Aodhan Corry, Logan O’Connor, Finbar Quinn (0-1 each)

Kildare: Jack Reilly (1-7,1tp), Greg Kelly (0-2), Aidan Tobin, Eoghan Lyons, Logan Tennyson (0-1 each)

Teams

Tyrone: Ronan O’Neill, Tiernan McCarron, James Maguire, Aidan Farley, Matthew J Daly, Aodhan Corry, Conor Fyffe, Tomas Gallen, Charlie Meenan, Logan O’Connor, Brian Og McGuckin, Ruairi O’Neill, Conan Canavan, Matthew F Daly, Vincent Gormley. Subs used: Conall Shevlin for C Fyffe (h-time), Ciaran McKeown for C Canavan (51), Finbar Quinn for L O’Connor (54), Caolan McKee for B McGuckin (58)

Kildare: Joe Crotty, Eoin Markey, Ryan Crawford, Liam Mescal, Fionnn Lawlor, Jack Doran, Luke Shanahan, Charlie Doran, Paidi Ryan, Aodhan Bergin, Aidan Tobin, Eoghan Lyons, Jack Reilly, Greg Kelly, Cian Keogh. Subs used: Logan Tennyson for A Bergin (22mins), Oisin McAfee for R Crawford (36), Jamie Flood for A Tobin (43), Rory Cooke for J Doran (52), Fiachra Martin for C Keogh (58)

Referee: Christopher Ryan (Galway)