We’re getting set for today’s curtain-raiser at Croke Park. Here’s the starting teams as announced during the week.
Kerry
1. Billy Courtney (Dr Crokes)
2. Darren Brosnan (Gneeveguilla)
3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Jack Morgan (Austin Stacks)
6. Andrew Barry (Na Gaeil)
7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
8. Mark O’Connor (Dingle – captain)
9. John Mark Foley (Kilgarvan)
10. Brian Ó’Seanacháin (Ballydonoghue)
11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare)
12. Brandon Barrett (Ardfert)
13. Michael Foley (Spa)
14. Bryan Sweeney (Listowel Emmets)
15. Conor Geaney (Dingle)
Tipperary
1. Charlie Manton (Fethard)
2. Tadhg Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers)
3. Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill)
4. Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers)
5. Danny Owens Capt. (Moyle Rovers)
6. Liam Fahy (Rockwell Rovers)
7. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
8. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
9. Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch)
10. Aidan Buckley (St. Patricks)
11. Alan Tynan (Inane Rovers)
12. Colin English (Fr. Sheehys)
13. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers)
14. Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
15. Brendan Martin (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
Less than 15 minutes until throw-in at Croke Park. Ryan Bailey here taking over to guide you through all the action as it happens while Fintan O’Toole is at HQ to bring you a report.
The stage is set on this All-Ireland football final day.
Kerry, the defending minor football champions, won their first All-Ireland title in two decades twelve months ago but can they defend their crown today?
Tipperary have tasted success in the minor football championship just twice with their last win coming in 2011.
During the week, we asked you who would prevail in this afternoon’s curtain-raiser and 53% of readers think the Kingdom will come out on top.
These two sides are familiar with each other with today’s clash a repeat of July’s Munster minor final clash which saw Kerry triumph by 2-14 to 1-11 in Killarney.
Both sides going through some last minute preparations. Charlie McGeever is rallying his troops with what appears to be a pretty passionate pep talk before the teams line-up for the customary pre-match handshake.
Healthy crowd inside Croke Park already with plenty of Kerry jerseys scattered around the ground. Right, we’re all set. Will it be the Kingdom or Tipperary?
We’re underway! Tipperary are attacking the Hill 16 end in this first-half and they’re flowing forward already.
1 min – Kerry 0-0 Tipperary 0-0
Fast start for Tipp as they attack straight from throw-in but it’s straight forward for Billy Courtney in the Kerry goal as he gathers the long-range effort.
2 mins – Kerry 0-0 Tipperary 0-0
Tipp looking to stamp their authority on this game early as they press Kerry high up the pitch and make it difficult for the Kingdom to find a route out of defence.
3 mins – Kerry 0-1 Tipperary 0-0
But it’s Kerry who are on the board first as Sean O’Shea opens the scoring with a sweet score from the right. The Kenmare club man cuts across it and dissects the post. Perfect technique.
4 mins – Kerry 0-1 Tipperary 0-0
Nervous start for Courtney as he fails to gather a relatively straight forward ball and he’s put under pressure straight away before conceding the free-kick.
Jack Kennedy can’t convert, however, as his effort strikes the post and the follow-up attempt sails wide.
7 mins – Kerry 0-1 Tipperary 0-0
Both sides showing some nerves in the opening exchanges – but that’s only to be expected. After making the room for himself, Gavin White pushes his long-range effort narrowly wide of the mark.
8 mins – Kerry 0-2 Tipperary 0-0
No mistake this time from Bryan Sweeney though and Kerry extend their advantage at this early stage of proceedings.
The Kerry team contains just two of the side that defeated Donegal in the final last year – Andrew Barry and Mark O’Connor.
10 mins – Kerry 0-3 Tipperary 0-0
John Mark Foley is given the freedom of Croke Park in midfield and he needs no second invitation to slot it over the bar for another Kerry point. Shortly after, Sean O’Shea can’t add his second score but Jack O’Connor’s men have dominated the opening passages of play.
12 mins – Kerry 0-4 Tipperary 0-0
Kerry are all over Tipperary at the moment as Conor Geaney gets in on the act.
13 mins – Kerry 0-4 Tipperary 0-1
Tipp need to just get their foot on the ball and Tommy Nolan provides that outlet as he conjures a brilliant running score to get his side up and running.
16 mins – Kerry 0-4 Tipperary 0-2
Nolan again leads the charge for Tipp with an industrious run before laying it back for Alan Tynan to send a sweetly struck effort between the posts – much to the appreciation of the Dublin fans already gathering on the Hill.
17 mins – Kerry 0-5 Tipperary 0-2
But Kerry respond instantly to those two Tipp scores. Conor Geaney on the mark again.
19 mins – Kerry 1-5 Tipperary 0-2
GOAL! Kerry take complete control of this contest after a beautifully worked goal. Sean O’Shea plays a perfectly timed hand pass inside to Bryan Sweeney to fire high past Charlie Manton.
20 mins – Kerry 1-6 Tipperary 0-2
Kerry stretch their lead with another point.
21 mins – Kerry 1-6 Tipperary 0-2
Penalty! Kerry break with pace and numbers and it is eventually played through to Geaney but as he pulls the trigger, he’s pushed by Tommy Lowry and the referee awards the penalty.
23 mins – Kerry 2-6 Tipperary 0-2
GOAL! After receiving treatment, Geaney picks himself up and strokes the penalty into the corner, sending Manton the wrong way. Kerry in complete control now.
24 mins – Kerry 2-7 Tipperary 0-2
Every time Kerry attack, they look like scoring and this time it’s captain Mark O’Connor to finish the move off.
29 mins – Kerry 2-7 Tipperary 0-4
Tipperary stem the flow two points in quick succession, the latest coming from the boot of Alan Tynan.
30 mins – Kerry 2-7 Tipperary 0-4
We’ll have two additional minutes at the end of this first-half.
31 mins – Kerry 2-7 Tipperary 0-4
Wides at both ends with Tommy Lowry spurning the opportunity to reduce the deficit further as the Tipp man skews his effort well wide.
32 mins – Kerry 2-8 Tipperary 0-4
And Kerry score the final point of the half after Jack Morgan is hauled down. That’s half-time as the players head for the changing rooms.
Teams are back out for the second-half and we’re underway again.
32 mins – Kerry 2-8 Tipperary 0-4
It was a pretty one-sided first-half and Kerry hold a 10 point lead. Tipp have a bit of a mountain to climb if they are to win their second minor football championship in five years.
33 mins – Kerry 2-8 Tipperary 0-4
Couple of changes for Tipp at half-time with Jamie Bergin coming on for English while Buckley has made way for Ross Peters. Can they ignite a revival?
35 mins – Kerry 2-9 Tipperary 0-4
But it’s Kerry who register the first score of the half to stretch their lead further.
37 mins – Kerry 2-10 Tipperary 0-4
Kerry have picked up where they left off and are dominating the ball at the start of this second-half. Brian Ó’Seanacháin is the latest Kingdom player to get on the scoreboard as his effort creeps just over the bar. Moments later, Geaney fails to add to his personal tally with Kerry’s eight wide of the day.
39 mins – Kerry 2-10 Tipperary 0-5
Tipp are persevering and aren’t prepared to lie down just yet. Tommy Nolan with another point.
40 mins – Kerry 3-10 Tipperary 0-6
GOAL! What a great score and that should seal the deal. Michael Foley finishes off another fine move by palming the ball over Manton from close range.
42 mins – Kerry 4-10 Tipperary 0-6
Penalty! Kerry are running riot. Michael Foley charges through on goal but is dragged back by Tadhg Fitzgerald and the referee has little choice but to award the spotkick.
Geaney steps up and emphatically smashes it past the goalkeeper. Fitzgerald is shown a black card for the foul. Morgan Irwin comes on in his place.
47 mins – Kerry 4-11 Tipperary 0-6
All too easy for Kerry now as they’re finding acres of space all over the pitch and are ruthlessly exploiting it. There’s still 12 minutes remaining and you’ve got to feel for Tipp here.
49 mins – Kerry 4-11 Tipperary 0-6
First real scare for the Kerry defence as they fail to deal with a high ball with the goalkeeper coming off his line and flapping at it. No damage done, however, as they clear their lines.
The heavens have just opened at HQ and it’s currently pouring down. It’s been overcast but mild in the capital all day but it looks like the headline act will be played in unfavourable weather conditions.
It’s been a pretty one-sided affair.
53 mins – Kerry 4-12 Tipperary 0-6
The Hill is nearly full and the Dublin fans are already in fine voice as a rendition of ‘Come on you boys in blue’ echoes around Croke Park.
Not much happening on the field.
57 mins – Kerry 4-13 Tipperary 0-6
Kerry are just toying with Tipp now as the clock ticks down. Two quick points extends their advantage and adds further gloss to the scoreboard.
Full-time! Kerry 4-14 Tipperary 0-6
Kerry have won the All-Ireland minor football championship for the 13th time.
And here’s our full-time report from Croke Park.
Thanks for joining us but remember the headline act of the day is still to come.
Follow our All-Ireland football final liveblog with Eoin O’Callaghan right here.
