Tyrone Boss Gushes About Unlikely Hero Who Led Team To All-Ireland Minor Triumph

Tyrone have claimed their first minor title since 2017, overcoming Kerry on a scoreline of 1-16 to 1-15 in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football final in Newbridge this afternoon.

The Ulster men entered this game as slight favourites, although there would prove to be very little between the sides in the opening half.

This goal from Ben Kelliher would prove to be the difference between the two teams at the interval.

The second half would also be a hard fought affair, although Kerry proficiency in front of goal looked like it could put some daylight between the sides.

The Munster team produced some excellent scores, including this two-point effort from Gearóid Whyte.

However, a penalty scored by Tyrone in the 52nd minute would put them back in front by just one point.

The game would go right down to the wire, with the teams level as we entered the final two minutes.

Kerry's Ben Kelliher thought he had won it for his side with a late score in the 60th minute, but there was some life left in Tyrone yet.

They would produce two injury time points to win the game, leading them to their first All-Ireland title in this grade since 2017.

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This is a massive achievement for Tyrone, one they have managed without their star forward.

Joel Kerr was not available for this game, having joined Premier League club West Ham on July 1st. As a result of signing his professional contract, he was not allowed to play in this fixture.

His replacement was Diarmuid Martin, who would go on to make a telling contribution in the game. He ended the contest with 0-3, including the winning point at the death.

Speaking on TG4 after the game, Tyrone manager Gerard Donnelly praised Martin for his performance after coming into the team in difficult circumstances.

That lad has put in the same work as all the rest of them boys. He picked up a couple of knocks as the year went on, but he was just coming to the boil nicely.

I said to him 'Diarmuid this is going to be your day'. My god, was it!..

We knew from the very start that this was going to be problematic, we knew July 1st was going to be his cutoff date. We have absolutely no problems with West Ham, they have financial investment in the kid.

What a lad, but it isn't just unbelievable that Diarmuid Martin who came in for him, got the winning point to win Joel his All-Ireland medal. I'm just delighted for him.

Some performance.

With this level of talent in Tyrone, the future is certainly bright for the county.