Gaelic Games

Canavan inspirational as Tyrone overcome Kerry to book U20 final place

Crucial late Bogue goal helps Red Hand men complete gritty comeback

Kerry’s Jordan Kissane comes under pressure from Tyrone tacklers during the All-Ireland U20 championship semi-final at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise. Photograph: Ashley Cahill/Inpho
Kerry’s Jordan Kissane comes under pressure from Tyrone tacklers during the All-Ireland U20 championship semi-final at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise. Photograph: Ashley Cahill/Inpho
Paul Keane
Sun May 08 2022 - 17:13

Tyrone 1-14 Kerry 1-12

A little over eight months after watching big brother Darragh enjoy All-Ireland senior success with Tyrone, Ruairí Canavan is now on the verge of EirGrid U-20 glory.

Not for the first time this season the Errigal Ciarán attacker inspired his team and the Ulster final hero struck 0-8 overall as Tyrone came from behind to see off old rivals Kerry.

The Kingdom won the corresponding fixture at minor level three years ago and led this game too with five minutes to go but Canavan’s equaliser, followed by a 58th minute Ciaran Bogue goal, put Tyrone into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

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The Ulster champions will have little time to celebrate the win as they will play 2018 winners Kildare next weekend.

Captain Aaron Browne powered Kildare to a 0-12 to 0-7 semi-final win over first-time Connacht champions Sligo on Saturday and Tyrone followed their lead in Portlaoise.

Tyrone trailed for much of the game though, going in 0-5 to 0-6 down at the interval and conceding a 34th minute Kerry goal which was converted by Dylan Geaney.

The former Kerry minor star struck 1-4 in total and his 35th minute point left Declan O’Sullivan’s side four clear though, with Canavan superb, Tyrone slowly but surely reeled them in.

Eoin Corry and Conor Cush delivered stunning performances too for Tyrone who outscored Kerry by 1-6 to 0-4 in the closing 20 minutes to secure their first final place since winning the U-21 title in 2015.

“I think from the starting team, there’s eight or nine that are underage again next year so the future is bright,” said Tyrone manager Paul Devlin.

TYRONE: S McMenamin; B Conway, E Corry, M Rafferty; D Muldoon, S Donaghy, N Devlin; R McHugh, M McGleenan (0-1); C Daly, J Donaghy, S O'Donnell (0-1); R Canavan (0-8, 3f, 1m), C Bogue (1-2), C Cush (0-2).

Subs: G Potter for O'Donnell (33-35 mins, blood), Potter for Cush (51), L Donnelly for O'Donnell (63), E Montgomery for Bogue (63).

KERRY: D Burns (0-1, 1f); D O'Callaghan, A Dineen, J Nagle; E O'Connor, A Heinrich, T Cronin; R Murphy (0-2), S O'Brien; K Evans, T O'Donnell, E Looney; D Geaney (1-4, 0-2f), C Burke (0-1), K Goulding (0-4).

Subs: G Hassett for Evans (37 mins), A Curran for Cronin (41), J Kissane for O'Donnell (48), T Doyle for Looney (52), J O'Connor for Goulding (57).

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).