Preview: Electric Ireland MFC Final
Kerry manager Wayne Quillinan. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Sunday, July 6
Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football championship final
Kerry v Tyrone, Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, 1.30pm, TG4
These are exciting times for underage football in Tyrone.
The county has already won the Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland U-20 championship for the third time in four seasons, successfully defending the title Tyrone won in 2024.
Now a first Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor success since 2010 is within touching distance.
Gerard Donnelly is in his fifth season as manager, a journey for him that began with a final appearance in 2021.
Tyrone came up short on that occasion, to a talented Meath team, and this is the county's first appearance in the national decider since.
Donnelly is surrounded by experience in his coaching team with ex-Tyrone star Ciaran Gourley and current senior goalkeeper Niall Morgan both key figures. Sean Murphy is another coach and also oversees the fitness of the team.
They will be without attacker Joel Kerr due to his soccer commitments but retain plenty of firepower in the shape of talented performers like Peter Colton, Eoin Long and Cathal Farley. The side is captained by Carrickmore's Padraig Donaghy.
Tyrone have won six games in a row this season, beating Cavan in the Ulster final before taking down Cork and Roscommon in the All-Ireland series.
Tyrone were slow starters against Roscommon and were under siege for a spell against Cork so Donnelly will strive for a 60-minute performance this time.
They will face a Kerry side that is fresh off five wins in a row, overcoming Cavan and Mayo narrowly in the All-Ireland series.
The three-in-a-row Munster champions have been led by the excellent Ben Kelliher and Kevin Griffin in attack while Gearoid White's influence on the team has been clear.
Kelliher scored nine points in the semi-final win over Mayo, a game in which Kerry needed to score four of the last five points to win by 1-19 to 3-10.
Managed by Wayne Quillinan, Kerry will be chasing a first minor title since completing a famous five-in-a-row at the grade in 2018.
