A promising Roscommon team advanced to the inaugural All-Ireland U17 final following a fine 2-15 to 1-13 win over Kerry at Cusack Park, Ennis last Saturday (August 12 ).
Roscommon, who claimed the Connacht title in impressive fashion, will now face Tyrone in Croke Park in the decider on August 27.
The past decade has featured several good Roscommon underage victories, especially in the west, so this was a hugely encouraging result against the Kingdom.
Paul Carey and Peter Gilhooley were in excellent scoring form throughout for Roscommon, who led by 1-6 to 1-5 after a lively first half.
An early Michael Kelliher goal in the eighth minute arrived following three Roscommon points. The Connacht standard bearers responded with a major of their own in the 13th minute when Carey blasted a penalty to the back of the Kerry net.
Roscommon’s powerful attack continued to cause Kerry problems as they went in armed with a slender interval advantage. It remained keenly contested in the second period, but Roscommon eventually pulled clear in the closing stages.
An injury-time goal from Gilhooley sealed the deal for Roscommon, who will face an equally demanding assignment against a highly rated Tyrone in the decider.
Roscommon: M O’Donnell; D Horan, J Keane, P Frost; C Lawless, O Lennon, J Martin; J Larkin, S Cunnane; T McManus, P Carey, A Lyons; P Gilhooley; C Sugrue, N Higgins. Subs: D Murray for McManus, P McGrath for Sugrue, R Donoghue for Larkin, C Crehan for Lyons.
