Kingdom’s conveyer belt of talent in good health
 Kerry 2-13
Donegal 1-10
All-Ireland Minor semi-final
Kerry’s fantastic football season continued as their Minors advanced
to an All-Ireland final showdown with either Meath or Roscommon as they
proved too strong for a game but limited Donegal outfit.
Remarkably the Kingdom haven’t won a minor All-Ireland since 1994
but on Sunday’s performance they may well end that mini-famine this
year.
As one Waterville great exited the football stage at the weekend another
was born with Paddy Curran turning in a powerful performance scoring 1-6
and creating chances for those around him.
In a tight first-half where nerves seemed to grip both sides Donegal started
the better and were 0-6 to 0-3 ahead on 25 minutes — the best of
their scores coming through Michael Murphy and Martin McElhinney.
Kerry were the physically stronger side and their dominance was beginning
to tell. In the final 10 minutes of the first-half they rattled off four
scores without reply to lead by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.
The momentum was all with Kerry and they pulled clear at the start of
the second-half. Points from Curran, David Enright and Darren O’Shea
sending the Kingdom clear.
Jamie Doolan finished a flowing passing move to the net to put Kerry
in a commanding lead on 48 minutes.
Donegal continued to battle, but they could only muster points when goals
were needed.
As it was Kerry found the net again on 63 minutes when Curran fired into
the net after a fantastic solo run.
Kerry tacked on points from O’Shea and the impressive David Moran
in the closing minutes and at one stage led by nine points.
That winning margin would have been harsh on Donegal and they deserved
their lucky late goal when McIlhenny fired a loose ball to the net.
This is an excellent Kerry outfit and manager Michael Kennedy will be
confident his side can go all the way this year.
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