Heartbreak for Armagh Minors as they lose out to Derry in the All-Ireland final

It wasn’t to be for the Armagh Minors this afternoon, as they came up just three points short against Derry in the All-Ireland final.

The action was frantic in the opening minutes, as Derry powered into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with scores from Ger Dillon, Eamon Young and Dylan Rocks in response to a Ross Marsden point for Armagh.

However, as the game settled down the weather picked up, with ferocious wind and rain driving into the faces of the Armagh side.

They managed the conditions well though and were level following scores from Diarmaid O'Rourke (free) and Fionn Toale.

But Derry restored their lead on 24 minutes when Luke Grant was fouled in the square and captain James Sargent rattled the resulting penalty into the roof of the net.

Once again though, Armagh responded well to going behind, and they pulled themselves level going in at the half-time break following scores from Gavin O'Rourke, Eoin Duffy (free) and a Michael Finnegan '45.

Armagh brought that momentum with them into the early phases of the second half, and almost hit the net, but Ross Marsden saw his shot blocked by Derry’s Caoimhin Hargan.

Finnegan converted from the ‘45 giving the Orchard County their first lead of the game. Derry’s Ger Dillon responded from a free, but Armagh took a two-point lead following scores from Diarmaid O’Rourke and substitute Aaron Garvey.

However, momentum swung completely in Derry’s favour over the next 10 minutes and they scored 1-3 without reply to surge into the lead.

Sargent, Grant and Young all scored from play in quick succession, before brothers Dylan and Cody Rocks combined to score what proved to be the winning goal, with Dylan putting the ball on a plate, and Cody palming home.

Armagh kept battling and made it a one-score game via a Diarmaid O’Rourke free, but the goal they desperately needed wasn’t forthcoming and their efforts fell just short.

MATCH STATS

Armagh: M Finnegan (0-2, 2'45); T Fox, G O’Rourke (0-1), C Wilson; Fergus Toale, S Woods, D O’Rourke (0-3, 3f); J Loughran, D O’Callaghan; R Marsden (0-1), J McCooe, K McEntee; Fionn Toale (0-1), E Duffy (0-1, 1f), S Loughran.

Subs: Aaron Garvey (0-1) for Marsden (37), Aodhan McGrane for Fergus Toale (52), Oisin Gribben for Duffy (56), Caomh Agnew for Fionn Toale (56), Paidi Comiskey for D O'Rourke (60).

Derry: J McCloy; P O’Kane, R Canavan, P Haran; L Grant (0-1), C O Mainain, D McGuckin; J Sargent (1-1, 1pen), C McBride; E Young (0-2), T McHugh, C Hargan; G Dillon (0-2, 1f), C Rocks (1-0), D Rocks (0-1).

Subs: Rian Collins for Hargan (46), Ruairi Biggs for O'Kane (55).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).