Derry have beaten Dublin by 3-11 to 1-8 as they advance to the final of the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship, where they will face Monaghan on the weekend of July 8.
It was a comfortable win in the end for Derry, despite playing the entirety of the second half with 14 men, after goalkeeper Jack McCloy was sent of for a tussle in the tunnel at half-time.
Goals from Luke Grant, Cahir Spiers and a penalty from James Sargent, made it a comfortable win in the end, as they made their third All-Ireland Minor final since 2017 (they lost to Kerry in 2017 but got revenge in the 2020 final).
After the game, Player of the Match James Sargent paid tribute to his manager Damian McErlain for the preparation he has done for the team:
Brilliant feeling, we've worked so long for this since November, just working constantly. I have to thank Damien and the management for it, it's been brilliant all year.
It was a different feeling from the rest of the games, it's not been as high paced as that, as high intensity. It was sort of out of control the game, end-to-end there the whole time.
Derry Defeat Dublin To Make It To The All-Ireland Minor Football Final
Lán Ama
"We knew what we were doing, we were set up perfectly for it"
Is é James Sargent Laoch na hImeartha inniu, Comhghairdeas leat James!@Doiregaa @ElectricIreland | #GAA
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/x0YP2GgKig— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 25, 2023
25 June 2023; James Sargent of Derry in action against Shane Mullarkey of Dublin during the Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Semi Final match between Dublin and Derry at Box-It Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
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Sargent was asked about the challenges of playing with a man less for much of the match, but once again he gave the credit to McErlain.
"We had a plan we were playing 14 man the Saturday before, just had to keep control, we knew what we were doing.
"I have to thank Damian again for that, he set us up perfectly for it."
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