Derry beat Armagh to become All-Ireland minor champions for second year in a row

Amazingly, this is the third time that these two sides have met in this championship, with Derry now winning all three of the games, but none were as competitive as this one.

The reigning champions got off to a flying start, kicking three points in the opening three minutes, but then the rain started to fall in biblical proportions.

Suddenly, the game became slippy and messy, and it was Armagh who managed the conditions better, responding with points from Ross Marsden and Diarmaid O’Rourke to make things all square.

The Oakleafers were struggling to bring the likes of Dylan Rocks and Ger Dillon into the game, but a penalty on the 23rd minute rocked them back into life.

Captain James Sargent stood up to take responsibility, and he blasted it down the middle, into the back of the net to double Derry’s lead.

The goal appeared to shake Armagh back into life however, as they kicked the next three scores, including a pressured free kick from goalkeeper Michael Finnegan to make things even again at the break.

The rain storm had settled by the time the second half was thrown in, and a game of football broke out as both teams started kicking the ball more, going score for score in the opening minutes.

The Orchard county did manage to stretch out a two-point lead, but just like in the first 30 minutes, Sargant was the man who stood up and managed to equalise again before Dillon put them back in the lead.

The tension began to build as balls were dropped and fumbled on the wet surface, but that dense atmosphere was soon punctured when Cody Rocks got under a high ball and managed to punch home a crucial goal for Damien McErlain’s side.

Armagh kept pushing, desperately trying to find a breakthrough, but Derry were defiant in their defence, and the experience from last year’s success began to show as they started to manage the game, keep the ball, and frustrate their opponents.

Despite the cool head of O’Rourke, whose free kicks managed to keep them within touching distance, they just couldn’t get past the wall of red and white jerseys that was placed in front of them.

Luke Grant almost put the cherry on top with a goal right at the death, but Finnegan was alert right to the end and managed to make a great save.

The full time whistle blew and a sea of Derry men, women and children flooded the pitch to congratulate the young warriors, who put on an excellent exhibition of how to see out a game of football.

Armagh left the field with their reputations enhanced, reaching their first All-Ireland minor final since 2009, and judging by the fantastic effort that these young men put in, you imagine that we will be seeing them represent the senior team with that same pride and commitment very soon.

Derry: J McCloy; P O’Kane, R Canavan, P Haran; L Grant, C Ó Mianáin, D McGuckin; J Sargent, C McBride; E Young, T McHugh, C Hargan; G Dillon, C Rocks, D Rocks.

Subs: R Collins (on for C Hargan 47) R Biggs (for P O’Kane 56)

Derry scorers: D Rocks 0-1, E Young 0-2, Ger Dillon 0-2 (1f), J Sargent 1-1 (1p), L Grant 0-1, C Rocks 1-0,

Armagh: M Finnerty; T Fox, G O’Rourke, C Wilson; F Toole, S Woods, D O’Rourke; J Loughran, D O’Callaghan; R Marsden, J McCooe, K McEntee; F Toale, E Duffy, S Loughran.

Subs: A Garvey 37 (for R Marsden 37) A McGrane (for F Toale 56), L Bellew (for E Duffy 57) P Comiskey (for D O’Rourke)

Armagh scorers: R Marsden 0-1, D O’Rourke 0-3 (3f), F Toale 0-1, G O’Rourke 0-1, E Duffy 0-1 (1f), M Finnegan 0-2 (2f), A Garvey 0-1