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Donegal's Lorcan Connor with Tom O’Sullivan of Kerry. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Kerry v Donegal, All-Ireland MFC final

There was plenty of drama in the Electric Ireland curtain-raiser as the youngsters of Kerry and Donegal went head to head.

FOR THE FIRST time since 1979, the same two counties contest both All-Ireland football finals — but would today belong to Kerry or Donegal?

First up Donegal’s youngsters had a chance to make history in the county’s first-ever minor final. Kerry have won 11 titles at the grade but it has been 20 long years since the Tom Markham Cup resided in the Kingdom.

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More than four months after the first ball was kicked in Gaelic Park, New York, it’s All-Ireland football final day.

For the first time since 1979 the same two counties contest both finals which means that before Donegal and Kerry go head-to-head in a hugely anticipated senior decider at 3.30pm, the minors take centre stage.

Throw-in is at 1.15pm.

Here’s the Kerry team as named earlier this week:

1 Shane Ryan (Rathmore)

2 Dan O’Donoghue (Spa)
3 Brian Ó Beaglaioch (An Ghaeltacht)
4 Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)

5 Brian Sugrue (Renard)
6 Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil)
7 Cormac Coffey (Kerins O’Rahillys)
8 Barry O’Sullivan (Dingle)
9 Mark O’Connor (Dingle)

10 Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
11 Brian Rayel (Lispole)
12 Matthew Flaherty (Dingle)

13 Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
14 Liam Kearney (Spa, capt)
15 Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)

Two late changes to the Donegal team: Eoin Bán Gallagher and Ethan O’Donnell both start.

1 Danny Rodgers (An Clochán Liath)

2 Danny Monagle (Carn Domhnach)
3 Ciarán Gillespie (Gaoth Dobhair)
4 Colm Kelly (Aodh Ruadh BAS)

5 Stephen McMenamin (Aodh Rua Killygordan)
6 Tony McCleneghan (Bun an Phobail)
7 Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair)

25 Eoin Bán Gallagher (Na Cealla Beaga)
9 Caolán McGonagle (Bun Crannacha)

10 Stephen McBrearty (Cill Chartha)
11 Lorcán Connor (Na Dúnaibh)
12 Micheál Carroll (Gaoth Dobhair)

13 Jamie Brennan (Bun Dobhráin)
14 John Campbell (Bun Crannacha)
17 Ethan O’Donnell (Naomh Conaill)

Donegal 0-1 Kerry 0-1: 3 mins – Donegal strike first through Jamie Brennan but Matthew Flaherty levels for Kerry.

Kerry 0-2 Donegal 0-1: 5 mins – Killian Spillane kicks an easy free into the Canal End.

Kerry 0-2 Donegal 0-2: 7 mins – Stephen McBrearty kicks his first of the afternoon to level things up.

Kerry 0-3 Donegal 0-3: 11 mins – Caolan McGonagle puts Donegal in front with a free before they have a scare at the other end. Matthew Flaherty and Liam Kearney have a goal chance for Kerry but they’re crowded out.

Micheál Burns eventually points to square things up.

Kerry 0-4 Donegal 0-3: 13 mins – Superb score by Barry O’Sullivan after Shane Ryan made a relfex save to deny Donegal a goal at the other end.

Kerry 0-5 Donegal 0-4: 15 mins – Micheál Burns kicks his second of the day for the Kingdom but Stephen McBrearty, who was superb in the semi-final win over Dublin, steadies the ship with a score from the Cusack Stand side.

Kerry 0-6 Donegal 0-4: 16 mins – “The Dancer” Tomás Ó Sé wriggles free from the Donegal defence and turns to point. Kerry two up as we reach the halfway point in this first half.

Kerry 0-6 Donegal 0-5: 20 mins – Donegal wing-back Cian Mulligan has already found himself in some good attacking positions and this time he floats over a fine point off the left boot.

22 mins – Caolan McGonagle has a chance to level it for Donegal but it’s left and wide. Kerry keeper Shane Ryan is penalised for taking a short kick-out but his defenders get a hand on the throw ball and scramble it clear.

Lorcan Connor with Tom OÕSullivan Donegal's Lorcan Connor with Tom O’Sullivan of Kerry. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Kerry 0-7 Donegal 0-5: 24 mins – Donegal have started to get on top in midfield without really making it count on the scoreboard.

At the other end, Killian Spillane kicks a beautiful point — that’s his second of the day.

Kerry 0-8 Donegal 0-5: 26 mins – Make that three for Spillane! He points an easy free after some brilliant running by Micheal Burns draws a free from the Donegal defence.

Kerry 0-8 Donegal 0-6: 27 mins – Full forward John Campbell points a free to bring Donegal back within two.

28 mins – Two great chances for Kerry to stretch their lead before the break but Matthew Flaherty and Michael Burns are off-target.

Kerry sub: Liam Carey comes on for Cormac Coffey.

We’ll have one additional minute.

HALF TIME: Kerry 0-8 Donegal 0-6

Donegal line up a free to end the first half but it drops short. Kerry lead by two at the break.

Back in five.

Ethan OÕDonnell with Brian Sugrue Donegal's Ethan O’Donnell with Brian Sugrue of Kerry Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

SECOND HALF: We’re back up and running with Kerry attacking a Hill 16 end packed with the green and gold… of Donegal fans.

Kerry 0-9 Donegal 0-6: 33 mins – Kerry sub Jordan Kiely swings over a point to get the second half started. Can Donegal reel Kerry in?

Kerry 0-10 Donegal 0-6: 35 mins – Donegal have a sight on goal but Lorcan Connor is denied. Barry O’Sullivan points at the other end to put four between them.

Kerry 0-10 Donegal 0-7: 36 mins – Lorcan Connor cuts the gap to three again.

Donegal sub: Captain Niall Harley enters the fray, replacing  Colm Kelly.

Kerry 0-11 Donegal 0-7: 39 mins – Killian Spillane sticks a free between the Hill 16 uprights. He’s been on the money so far today.

Kerry sub: Robert Wharton on for Brian Sugrue.

Kerry 0-11 Donegal 0-8: 43 mins – John Campbell points to keep Donegal in touch. They’re not going away you know.

WHAT A CHANCE! Jamie Brennan thunders a shot off the Kerry post. Donegal very nearly level there.

Kerry 0-12 Donegal 0-8: 44 mins – Great work by Liam Carey and Jordan Kiely points. Has Donegal’s chance been and gone?

45 mins – Well played, Shane Ryan! A long Donegal free drops on the edge of his square and he rises above the bodies to fist it to safety.

Donegal sub: Gavin McBride on for Ethan O’Donnell.

Kerry 0-13 Donegal 0-8: 49 mins – Scór den scoth by Liam Carey as they say on TG4.

Kerry 0-14 Donegal 0-8: 50 mins – Kerry keeper Shane Ryan might fancy himself as the next Stephen Cluxton. He points a long free and Donegal need a late miracle here.

Kerry sub: Stephen O’Sullivan for Tomas O Se.

GOAL FOR DONEGAL! Kerry 0-14 Donegal 1-8 (Brennan, 51′) What about that from Donegal? The ball drops over Tom O’Sullivan’s head, Brennan gathers and this time he makes no mistake, finishing across Ryan into the far corner.

Kerry 0-14 Donegal 1-9: 51 mins – Donegal captain Niall Harley points. Game well and truly on, Ger.

SAVE! Donegal should be in front but Ryan gets down brilliantly to deny Lorcan Connor. Too straight from the Donegal lad.

Kerry 0-14 Donegal 1-10: 54 mins – One-point game now, incredibly. McGonagle wins a free and Connor points it!

Incredible athleticism from Donegal keeper Danny Rodgers. Shane Ryan’s free is practically over the bar but he gets up to snatch it and deny his opposite number.

Three minutes to play. Still only a single point in it…

Kerry 0-15 Donegal 1-10: 58 mins – Tom O’Sullivan points to put Kerry two up.

Serious drama here. Kerry win the breaking ball in midfield…

Kerry 0-16 Donegal 1-10: 59 mins – Jordan Kiely points, and that could be crucial. Donegal need a goal now and time’s running out.

Kerry’s Micheal Burns is a worthy Electric Ireland Man of the Match.

Two minutes of stoppage time. It looks to be Kerry’s day!

Kerry 0-17 Donegal 1-10: 60+1 mins – And surely it is Kerry’s day! Killian Spillane puts four between the sides with just over 60 seconds to play.

FULL TIME: Kerry 0-17 Donegal 1-10

KERRY ARE THE 2014 ALL-IRELAND MFC CHAMPIONS!

Superb entertainment and it’s Kerry’s day. They are minor champions for the first time in 20 years!

Man of the match Micheal Burns: “We’ve waited 20 years for this. I knew at the start of the year that this would be the group of lads to bring it back to Kerry.”

So that’s it – congrats to Jack O’Connor and the Kerry minors.

Now, can the Kingdom make it a famous double? Join Fintan O’Toole here for all the build-up and live coverage of the senior decider between Kerry and Donegal.

The day Michael Murphy’s Donegal lost to David Moran’s Kerry in the minor semi-final

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