Latest news with #All-IrelandMinorFootballChampionship
RTÉ News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dunne revels in fairytale as Martin rises to occasion for Tyrone
Tyrone manager Gerard Dunne has revealed new West Ham player Joel Kerr was one of the first to congratulate him on their All-Ireland Minor Football Championship success as Diarmuid Martin grabbed his opportunity to win the game. Kerr had been a vital part of the Red Hand's sea son but his move to the Premier League side, beginning from 1 July, meant he had to sit out the decider. Martin came into the side in Kerr's place and nabbed three points as Kerry were edged out in heart-breaking fashion at Cedral St Conleth's Park. Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the 1-16 to 1-15 victory, Donnelly revealed: "Joel's father is just beside me and he's the happiest man here. "Look, we knew from the first of July that Joel was a West Ham player. From the very first trial last September, I joked with him, I said, 'Joel, we'll push it back a week' and you never think it's going to be going to get this far. "I was just on the phone to him. He's in London. He's starting his career tomorrow morning and I'm so delighted, but isn't it just unbelievable that the man that came in for him, Diarmuid Martin, scored three points, including the winner at the end? "You couldn't script it, could you? You couldn't script it." While it was a special day for Donnelly, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for his counterparts in Kerry, having already experienced losing such a big game previously. He admitted a contentious piece of play fell in favour of the Ulster county. "Look, I feel so sorry for Kerry because I've been there and I thought another one had gone from me. We got the luck at the end, it was a really good tackle from Elliott [Kerr]. "Another referee might have given a penalty and when that final whistle went, I just couldn't believe it. I thought we'd lost another one, but thanks Christ we've got it. It's just emotion, it's just relief. "It was incredible. What these boys did four point down with 15 minutes to go, it's just them. We're standing on the sideline and you just hope they'll go for it. You can't do anything. I have to say, the crowd, the atmosphere, this was incredible and I think it was a brilliant game for everyone to watch." Wayne Quillinan was gracious in defeat as well as filled with pride, ruing the closing moments of a classic as Tyrone bagged late points to win the day. The referee's decision not to award Ben Kelliher a penalty was undoubtedly on his mind as he instead turned thoughts to his own side. "It has been the story of it all year, just never say die, never let up, never give up," he explained. "I think they showed that again today, they've grit, determination and everything. They just have everything you want, the characteristics of a brilliant, special team. And I'm gutted that the game ended that way. "When guys are so young, the first thing you have to tell them is that we absolutely believe in them, and have confidence in what we're doing. "And they had that today. We came up here with full belief that we were going to win that game. And unfortunately, it didn't happen for us." Quillinan didn't want to comment on the officiating in the closing stages, saying "it's for another day's conversation." The Kerry boss added: "I'm just hurting now for my boys inside. It's a tough dressing room, but it's up to me to pick them up and tell them how proud we are of them, how they represented the county with such pride and such distinction for fellas so young. "They showed such maturity, Down at home, they can be nothing but proud of that Kerry minor team. They're just a fantastic group of players."
RTÉ News
06-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dunne revels in fairytale as Martin rise to ocassion for Tyrone
Tyrone manager Gerard Dunne has revealed new West Ham player Joel Kerr was one of the first to congratulate him on their All-Ireland Minor Football Championship success as Diarmuid Martin grabbed his opportunity to win the game. Kerr had been a vital part of the Red Hand's sea son but his move to the Premier League side, beginning from 1 July, meant he had to sit out the decider. Martin came into the side in Kerr's place and nabbed three points as Kerry were edged out in heart-breaking fashion at Cedral St Conleth's Park. Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the 1-16 to 1-15 victory, Donnelly revealed: "Joel's father is just beside me and he's the happiest man here. "Look, we knew from the first of July that Joel was a West Ham player. From the very first trial last September, I joked with him, I said, 'Joel, we'll push it back a week' and you never think it's going to be going to get this far. "I was just on the phone to him. He's in London. He's starting his career tomorrow morning and I'm so delighted, but isn't it just unbelievable that the man that came in for him, Diarmuid Martin, scored three points, including the winner at the end? "You couldn't script it, could you? You couldn't script it." While it was a special day for Donnelly, he couldn't help but feel sympathy for his counterparts in Kerry, having already experienced losing such a big game previously. He admitted a contentious piece of play fell in favour of the Ulster county. "Look, I feel so sorry for Kerry because I've been there and I thought another one had gone from me. We got the luck at the end, it was a really good tackle from Elliott [Kerr]. "Another referee might have given a penalty and when that final whistle went, I just couldn't believe it. I thought we'd lost another one, but thanks Christ we've got it. It's just emotion, it's just relief. "It was incredible. What these boys did four point down with 15 minutes to go, it's just them. We're standing on the sideline and you just hope they'll go for it. You can't do anything. I have to say, the crowd, the atmosphere, this was incredible and I think it was a brilliant game for everyone to watch." Wayne Quillinan was gracious in defeat as well as filled with pride, ruing the closing moments of a classic as Tyrone bagged late points to win the day. The referee's decision not to award Ben Kelliher a penalty was undoubtedly on his mind as he instead turned thoughts to his own side. "It has been the story of it all year, just never say die, never let up, never give up," he explained. "I think they showed that again today, they've grit, determination and everything. They just have everything you want, the characteristics of a brilliant, special team. And I'm gutted that the game ended that way. "When guys are so young, the first thing you have to tell them is that we absolutely believe in them, and have confidence in what we're doing. "And they had that today. We came up here with full belief that we were going to win that game. And unfortunately, it didn't happen for us." Quillinan didn't want to comment on the officiating in the closing stages, saying "it's for another day's conversation." The Kerry boss added: "I'm just hurting now for my boys inside. It's a tough dressing room, but it's up to me to pick them up and tell them how proud we are of them, how they represented the county with such pride and such distinction for fellas so young. "They showed such maturity, Down at home, they can be nothing but proud of that Kerry minor team. They're just a fantastic group of players."
Irish Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Emotional Kerry manager fights back tears after All-Ireland final defeat
An emotional Wayne Quillinan told of how proud he was of his players after Kerry's All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final defeat to Tyrone. The Red Hands beat the Kingdom by a single point in Newbridge on Sunday after an enthralling game of football that could have gone either way. Kerry led by 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time, but Tyrone, who were without star forward Joel Kerr following his move to West Ham, battled back against the wind in the second half, with Kerr's replacement in the starting XV, Diarmuid Martin, scoring the winning point in added time. Quillinan was visibly emotional as he spoke to TG4 immediately after the full-time whistle and paid tribute to his players. He said: "We always talk about the game, its margins, tiniest of margins. Unfortunately, we suffered on the wrong side of it today. "I just have to say, those lads that we have, those minors, were absolutely unbelievable today. "Those Kerry Minors this year have given us so much, they've given the county so much, they've given it a lift. Hearing the crowd today and seeing the seniors in Croke Park, for me, it's what our county is about. "As Kerry people, we've just got to realise that we're stronger together. We're stronger together. Hopefully, our seniors can do the job next Saturday. "Just at the minute, it's a desperate one to take. I'm not talking about myself, it's just when I think of the players, when I think of their families and their clubs and the whole journey they've been on." "It's at an end now and it's my job to go to that dressing room and tell them how proud we are of them, the standards they've kept all year. "Our county can only just get better when we have not just great players, but great young fellas coming through the whole time." Quillinan added: "Our lads are made of the right stuff. I think they've proved it time and time again this year against Cavan, they've proved it against Mayo, they've proved it again today, they've proved that they're made of the right stuff. And if you're made of the right stuff, Kerry will look after you."
Irish Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kerry v Tyrone LIVE score updates from the All-Ireland minor final
Kerry and Tyrone clash in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final today. Throw-in is at 1.30pm, with the game taking place at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge. The game will be shown live on TG4, with their coverage starting at 1pm. The Kingdom last lifted the Tom Markham Cup in 2018, while Tyrone's last All-Ireland minor success came 15 years ago. Here are the teams for this year's decider: Kerry: Ruairí Kennedy, Ronan Sheridan. Eoghan Joy, Tadhg Ó Slatara, Danny Murphy, David Sargent, Marcus Clifford, Maidhc Ó Sé, John Curtin, Mark O'Carroll, Gearóid White, Alex Tuohy, Ben Kelliher, Kevin Griffin, Tadhg O'Connell. Subs: Seán Sargent, Nick Lacey, David McCarthy, Pádraig Ó Mainnín, James Kissane, Liam O'Brien, Conor McGibney, Dylan O'Meara, Seán Kiely. Tyrone: Ronan Donnelly, Elliot Kerr, Padraig Goodman, Ciaran McCrystal, Aodhan Quinn, James Daly, Thomas Meenan, James Mulgrew, Padraig Donaghy, Darren McAnespie, Peter Colton, Cathal Farley, Joel Kerr, Eoin Long, Pearse McDonald. Subs: Aodhan Corry, Brian Óg McGuckin, Charlie Meenan, Diarmuid Martin, Harley Patton, Jack Gartland, Logan O'Connor, Peter Garrity, Matthew C Daly, Matthew F Daly, Michael Hughes, Michael Lennon, Michael Mullin, Odhran Carroll, Odhran Curran, Owen Griffiths, Mark Kennedy, Rian Biggs, Sean Óg Quinn, Vincent Gormley. Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog for the 2025 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final. Six days before their senior sides do battle in the semi-finals of the Championship, Kerry and Tyrone's minor sides face each other in the minor decider. Of course this game would have been the perfect curtain raiser ahead of next Saturday's semi-final. However, the schedule was already in place prior to last week's draw which pitted the Kingdom and the Red Hands together in the last four in the race for the Sam Maguire. Kildare and Limerick will face each other in the Tailteann Cup final prior to that game. Tyrone defeated Cork in the quarter-finals before overcoming Roscommon in the last four to reach today's final, while Kerry saw off Cavan in quarters before defeating Mayo in the last four. Throw-in is just under an hour away.
Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kerry and Tyrone paths to the All-Ireland MFC Final
Kerryman Kerry and Tyrone meet in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final after impressive championship runs. MAY 5: Munster MFC, Cork 2-8 Kerry 2-18: Despite conceding a second minute goal to Cork's Donagh Flynn, Kerry soon settled and, by the half-time break, they were on level terms against the hosts at Páirc Uí Rinn, 0-9 to 1-6. On the changeover, Wayne Quillinan's side were a different prospect.
