Derry won the 2020 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship on Sunday.
After a campaign which lasted more than a year due to Covid-19, they beat Kerry 2-12 to 1-14. It is Derry's first All-Ireland minor title since 2002.
Kerry had led by three points at the break, 0-4 to 0-7. Eight minutes into the second half, Derry drew level - 1-6 to 0-06 - with a goal from Lachlan Murray.
The Ulster side powered into a three-point lead over the 10 minutes which followed, and maintained that aadvantage until late in the second half.
Derry win 2020 All-Ireland Minor Football title
#DERvKER 37 nóim
Doire 1-06 (9)
Ciarraí 0-09 (9)
CÚL do @Doiregaa 🤩🥳
Great movement from Derry and Lachlan Murray gets the goal 😍👌@ElectricIreland @GAA_BEO #GAAThisIsMajor #GAA #GAABEO
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/gRBFr80rga— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 18, 2021
In the 59th minute, Kerry - who were down to 14 players due to the sending off of Thomas O'Donnell - moved to within a point with a super score from Cian McMahon.
The kickout which followed resulted in what looked as though it was going to be a disastrous moment for Derry. The short kick from the Derry goalkeeper was mishandled by one of their subs, and Kerry's Maurice O'Connell side-footed the ball into an empty net.
The drama was far from over. Derry worked the ball down the pitch, and corner forward Niall O'Donnell had a goal chance which was blocked by Kerry goalkeeper Seán Broderick. Referee Jerome Henry adjudged it had been a foot block from the Kingdom keeper, and awarded a penalty.
Matthew Downey - son of 1993 All-Ireland winning Derry captain Henry Downey - converted the spot kick to put his side ahead by a point.
2 nóiméad fíor-dhrámatúil i gcluiche ceannais na hÉireann inniu! 😱#GAA #GAAThisIsMajor @ElectricIreland @Doiregaa @UlsterGAA pic.twitter.com/FvOzU7OFPs
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) July 18, 2021
"We've seen Matthew on the training ground, and I'd always back him to make a penalty," said Man of the Match Mark Doherty.
"Matthew wouldn't be a man to fear a penalty. I was quite confident he'd put that away.
"I struggle to put it into words [what this win means]. 18 months of hard work.
"We were down at half-time, and I was thinking 'Jeez, a good Kerry side up by three, that could be it'. We stuck though it. We've been there before, and know what to do. It's just unbelievable.
"It's a serious lift [to Derry]. People were texting you, clubs themselves were going mad supporting you as much as you could. It's about time we're back up at this stage."
Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
See Also: 'Dublin Got A Soft All-Ireland Last Year. They're On The Decline'
