Cork minors power into All-Ireland final following impressive victory over Derry

Cork: 2-19 (2-1-17) 

Derry: 2-8 (2-0-8) 

Another memorable day for Cork football as the Rebel minors showed their quality to comfortably defeat Derry in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland MFC semi-final at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Seven days on from the seniors’ stunning win away to Donegal, the buzz around the big ball on Leeside continues to trend in a positive direction. Cork are back in the All-Ireland decider at this grade for the first time since they last won the competition in 2019. Tyrone will provide the opposition in two weeks.

The Rebels were rocked by two early goals in this one, but recovered magnificently to lead by two at the short whistle. They were the better team by a stretch in the second half, pulling away to win by eleven.

Yet again, goalkeeper Rory Twohig was outstanding for Cork, his kicking ability a lethal weapon as he finished with 0-5, including an orange flag from a free. But this was another eye-catching collective performance, different players stepping up at different stages. It was their best display to date.

Keith Ricken’s charges started brightly with a Joe Miskella point and a 45 from Twohig. But Derry’s first real attack yielded a goal, Lorcan Higgins laying the ball on a plate for Conor O’Kane to finish after five minutes.

A lovely effort from Ben Hegarty following a flowing move drew Cork level, but the Ulster side struck again on 11 minutes when Rocco Devlin fired into the top corner after a driving run, making it 2-0 to 0-3.

The sides traded white flags before an outrageous point from a Twohig free from a difficult angle cut the gap to two. Cork then had a goal chance when Hegarty set up Darragh O’Sullivan, but his effort was blocked on the line. It was brought back for the mark and O’Sullivan tapped it over.

Twohig added another 45 and a beauty of an orange flag from a free to give Cork a 0-9 to 2-1 buffer with five minutes to the break. 

Eoghan Ahern was making things tick as the Leesiders seized momentum. A long Twohig free dropped into the square and was punched home by O’Sullivan, but it was disallowed for a square ball — a very harsh call.

Derry went down the field where Tomás Devlin pointed, only for Ahern to convert a free as Cork led 0-10 to 2-2. The sides swapped points and the Rebels went in 0-11 to 2-3 ahead at half-time.

Derry started on the front foot after the restart but a pair of wides frustrated them. McDermott left the bare minimum between the teams before Don Mulholland levelled matters. The Oakleafers were enjoying a purple patch and Tadhg Bradley nudged them ahead, 2-6 to 0-11 after 37 minutes.

Ahern’s free was timely from a Cork perspective and settled them. Tom Whooley then finished expertly to the net after being allowed to run and run, pushing Cork 1-12 to 2-6 ahead with 19 minutes left.

The sides swapped white flags as the game remained finely poised entering the final quarter. Conor Downing could have given Cork a real leg-up but his goal effort drifted wide. Derry had their own green-flag chance, but Devlin was denied brilliantly by Twohig.

Ahern pushed Cork four clear, followed by a Miskella point. The Rebels put the game to bed with five minutes remaining when sub Alex O’Herlihy finished to the net after Ahern’s involvement in the build-up, making it 2-15 to 2-7.

Cork added four points on the trot, with sub Kevin O’Donovan contributing two. Derry tagged on a late white flag, but the job was long done for Cork.

A brilliant showing from the young Rebels.

Scorers for Cork: R Twohig 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-2 45, 0-1 f), T Whooley 1-2, E Ahern 0-4 (0-3 f), A O’Herlihy 1-0, B Hegarty (0-1 f), K O’Donovan, J Miskella 0-2 each, D O’Sullivan (mark), D Herlihy 0-1 each.

Derry: C O’Kane, R Devlin 1-0 each, D Mulholland, N McDermott (0-2 f) 0-3 each, T Bradley, T Delvin 0-1 each.

CORK: R Twohig (Kilmeen); R McCormack (Midleton), A O’Sullivan (Glanmire), C Garvey (St Finbarr’s); D O’Sullivan (Erin’s Own), C Downing (Adrigole), E Lynch (Ballincollig); K O’Shea (Urhan), C Murphy (Barryroe); E Ahern (Carrigaline), B Hegarty (Ballinora), J Miskella (Ballincollig, c); T Whooley (Clonakilty), J Barry (Aghinagh), D Herlihy (Shamrocks).

Subs: P Kelly (Naomh Abán) for A O’Sullivan (h-t, inj), K O’Donovan (O’Donovan Rossa) for J Barry, A O’Herlihy (St Finbarr’s) for D Herlihy (both 44), F O’Donovan (Clonakilty) for D O’Sullivan (48), D O’Mahony (Newcestown) for C Garvey (52).

DERRY: M Doherty; D McEldowney, C Sargent, D McKaigue; J McCartney, C Campbell, L Higgins; G Gormley, J Mullan; C O’Kane, D Mulholland (c), N McDermott; T Devlin, T Bradley, R Devlin.

Subs: P McPeake for J McCartney (45), C McGuckin for T Devlin (50), C McDonnell for T Bradley, T Scullion for C Campbell (both 53), U McCloskey for G Gormley (61).

Referee: Anthony Coyne (Westmeath).