Kildare crowned U-20 champions after Killian Browne’s lofted goal seals title

So the footballers of Cavan and Laois, who were preparing for their Tailteann Cup clash in the second of three games scheduled for the venue, had to wait for the crowds to clear as Kildare supporters soaked the moment in.

They were the better side here from pillar to post but they couldn’t relax until the 58th minute when sub Killian Browne lofted his effort over the retreating Ethan Carden after his kick-out had been picked off.

Less than a minute earlier, Seán Hanafin had also pulled down a Sligo kick-out before pointing. Sligo went from trailing by just two points to six in the space of 90 seconds.

Kildare were five points up (0-9 to 0-4) at the break and might have been further ahead, having kicked nine wides.

But Sligo had reached this All-Ireland final, their first at the grade, the hard way, picking a route through Connacht’s big three of Roscommon, Mayo and Galway before seeing off Kerry so they were unlikely to go quietly. Twice during the second half, they cut the gap to two but they could never quite get on level terms while a penalty shout didn’t go their way.

“We were slow to start,” Sligo manager Paul Henry agreed. “Kildare got a fast start and tagged on a few scores straight away to put us under pressure. It just seemed that they settled in to the game an awful lot better than we did. I have to give huge credit to our lads. We brought it back to two points there at one stage.

“There was maybe one or two calls; I’m not sure I haven’t seen it. The penalty call could have made a huge difference. In fairness Kildare were the better team on the day and deserved their victory.”

This win follows on from Kildare’s 2018 success and last year’s final appearance at this grade. Kildare are gathering momentum.

“It means a huge amount,” Kildare manager Brian Flanagan said. “Kildare are no different to Sligo, we haven’t had a huge amount of success at any level historically. It’s great to be changing that, to be turning that.

“Days like this are to be enjoyed by the entire county and while we put in the work in for the last two or three years to get to this point there has been huge work beyond that done at schools, underage, (in the) nurseries and all the clubs around Kildare.

“This is what is produced at the end of it all and we just help along that path. I’m delighted for everyone involved with Kildare GAA.”

Scorers – Kildare:K Browne 1-1; A Fanning 0-3; O O’Sullivan, S Hanafin, C Bolton 0-2 each; C Barker (1f), H O’Neill, T Von Engelbrechten, S Farrell (1f), R Sinkey, N Dolan, E Cully 0-1 each.Sligo:L Marren 0-7 (7f); B Byrne 0-2; D Walsh, D O’Boyle, J Donlon 0-1 each.

Kildare:C Barker; H O’Neill, T von Engelbrechten, R Burke; J Harris, J McGrath, J McKevitt; N Dolan, S Farrell; R Sinkey, C Bolton, C Dalton; A Fanning, S Hanafin, O O’Sullivan. Subs: E Cully for O’Sullivan (39), E Mountaine for Harris (45), K Browne for Sinkey (48), S Savage for Dolan (56), D Guerin for Fanning (60+2).

Sligo:E Carden; R Chambers, C Johnston, L Casserly; D Walsh, D McLoughlin, R Sloyan; C Sheridan, R Doherty; M McDaniel, J Donlon, R Niland; L Marren, D O’Boyle, M Henry. Subs: J Flynn for Henry (24), R O’Kelly Lynch for McDaniel (h-t), Z Mahon for Chambers (h-t), B Byrne for Flynn (35), C McMorrow for Donlon (39).

Referee: M McNally (Monaghan).