BBC SPORT | N Ireland | Derry's major minor

All-Ireland Minor Final:
Derry 1-12 0-8 Meath

Derry charged to their fourth All-Ireland Minor football title with a brilliant show at Croke Park on Sunday.

Chris Brown's side took a while to find their feet, but once they found their rhythm, they produced a five-star performance to bring the title up north.

It took a full 12 minutes before either team troubled the scoreboard as the defences held firm.

It was Meath's David Murtagh who got the show on the road, but once Cathal O'Kane equalised a minute later, Derry's impressive show took off.

James Bateson and Barry McGoldrick were taking advantage from the hard work from deep as Derry's defence was instrumental in setting up attacks.

O'Kane, Bateson and Ciaran Mullan rifled over points with Meath's only reply coming from the expert free-taking of Dermot Farrell.

The whole turning point of the game came on the run-up to the break with Ruari Convery cracking home a fabulous goal.

Anthony Tohill played on the Derry team which won the 1989 All-Ireland Minor title
Anthony Tohill: 1989 minor win

O'Kane got Derry up and running on the resumption as they carried on where the left off the first half.

McGoldrick was again on target as once Meath continued to rely on the accuracy of Farrell who knocked over four points to keep his side in the hunt.

But a brilliant point epitomised Derry's play midway through the half.

The defence broke up a meath attack and the ball threaded through the midfield to the front runners and it was Mullan who finished off the move as Derry cruised into a 1-9 to 0-8 lead.

From that moment on, there was only one team in it as Derry allowed themselves several wides while picking up another three at the other end.

McGoldrick, Conlith Moran and Bateson again, made sure with cameo points that Derry would travel up north with the Tom Martin trophy.

Derry: E McNicholl, M McGoldrick, G O'Kane, J Keenan, C McCallion, M Lynch, P O'Hea, P Bradley, R Convery, B McGoldrick, C O'Kane, C Moran, J Bateson, P Young, C Mullan.

Meath: M Brennan; B O'Reilly (capt), T O'Connor, D O'Halloran; S Stephens, C King, E Dunne; J Melia, F Murphy; D Murtagh, P Murray, G McCullagh; B Regan, J Sheridan, B Farrell.

Referee: M Ryan (Limerick).


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