Kerry v Monaghan in the All-Ireland minor football championship was promised to be an exciting clash between two titanic teams.
Munster champions, Kerry who were backed by many to win the Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor championship were stunned by an impressive Monaghan team, who outscored the Kingdom 1-11 to 0-11, to book a spot in their first All-Ireland minor final in 84 years.
Monaghan's game plan against Kerry
The opening minutes of the game set the tone for what we would see throughout the entire match.
In the opening minutes, it was a game of patience, keeping possession and picking the right pass.
Max McGinnity and Sean Og McElwain were the two star men for the Ulster finalist's upfront, scoring 0-9 points between them to help Monaghan to their first minor final since 1939.
It was clear that Monaghan had come out with a clear game plan in mind to take on the Kerry team who were so lively in the championship up until this point of the championship.
It was evident they set out to frustrate and wear down the Kerry team, especially Kerry's star man Paddy Lane. The Ulster side's defence did exceptionally well in keeping Lane relatively quiet throughout the game.
Lane who is always a threat to any defence managed to produce two goal-scoring chances late on in the game but he was denied on both occasions by Monaghan's keeper and defence.
The Game-Changing Moment
Kerry will feel hard done by the 3-point defeat. Monaghan's Tommy Mallen's late first-half goal proved the difference between the two teams. The Kerry team will be sure to look back at the goal, feeling as though they could have prevented the ball from finding the back of the net.
Mallen from a long-range free-kick hit a hopeful high ball into the square, in the hopes of finding a teammate. Mallen struck the ball well but it was always dropping, fortunately, to Monaghan's favour the ball floated over the majority of Kerry's defence to get a score.
The Kerry keeper managed to get a hand on the ball but unfortunately despite all his efforts to redirect the trajectory of the high loopy ball, he managed to help the ball find its way into the back of the net, giving Monaghan a crucial goal, which proved costly in the final result.
35+3 nóim@Kerry_Official 0-07@monaghangaa 1-05
Cúl do Muineachán! - Titeann liathróid isteach sa chearnóg agus isteach sa cúl!
Monaghan take the lead going into the half-time break!@ElectricIreland | #GAA
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/gQPz5Jb2k5— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) June 24, 2023
Who will Monaghan face in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland football minor final?
Monaghan will now face either Dublin or Derry in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland final on either July 8/9. Their opponent will be decided tomorrow when the two teams face each other in the other All-Ireland minor semi-final.
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