James Sargent-inspired Derry team make it three wins in a row over Armagh to be crowned All-Ireland Minor Champions – The Irish News

Northern Ireland Minor Football Championship Final – Derry 2-7 Armagh 0-10

Experience is a term rarely used in the world of Under-17 football but a Derry side featuring ten survivors of last year’s MFC All-Ireland triumph drew on that invaluable ingredient to surge over the line for a second successive title.

When a tense decider at O’Neills Healy Park was in the melting pot, it was three warriors from the Class of 2023 who took it to a new level.

Captain and leader James Sargent led his men with inspiring force as the Oak Leafers turned a two-point deficit into a four-point lead in the space of six minutes.

The leadership and know-how of a champion team that had done it all before was captured in a final quarter of control and authority.

That said, Armagh will reflect on the missed goalscoring opportunities and lost possessions as moments that ultimately exacted a heavy price as they saw a heroic bid for a first minor title since 2009 slip away.

The Orchard boys, who lost to Derry by 17 points in the Ulster Championship group stage but finished just two points behind when the two teams met again in the provincial final, looked for long periods like they might keep up the momentum and topple the champions.

But it was Derry who got off to a flying start with three points inside the opening four minutes, Ger Dollin, Eamon Young and Dylan Rocks all on target, with Ross Marsden kicking the Orchard goal.

Manager Aidan O’Rourke quickly mobilised to shore up his defence, and it worked, with Derry waiting a full 30 minutes to score their next goal from open play.

The challengers played patiently and goals from a Diarmuid O’Rourke free-kick and a well-worked Fionn Toale point saw them equalise in the 20th minute.

But Derry scored four minutes later. Turlough McHugh sent Grant through and his shot was brilliantly deflected over the bar by goalkeeper Michael Finnegan, but referee Barry Tiernan levelled the game and awarded a penalty for a foul on Grant, which Sargent sent into the roof of the net.

Armagh’s response was emphatic, with full-back Gavin O’Rourke scoring a long-range shot before Eoin Duffy reduced the deficit.

They almost scored a breakaway goal following a turnover, but full-back Ronan Canavan stepped up to thwart Duffy.

Goalkeeper Finnegan drilled the ’45 between the posts to equalize at half-time, 0-6 to 1-3.

Armagh, with the wind at their backs, took the lead for the first time with another Finnegan ’45 and looked in a good position when substitute Aaron Garvey twice pushed them in front.

But Derry never panicked, and with Sargent leading by example with an impressive performance in midfield, they managed to overturn the deficit.

Grant and Young were always involved as the play spread down the flanks to stretch Armagh’s cover, and all three sent in points to put the holders back in front in the 47th minute.

The crucial score came ten minutes from time when Dylan Rocks found his brother Cody at the far post to score a goal.

Experience and a big-game mentality now made the difference for the Oak Leafers. They held their opponents to just one point in the final 20 minutes, a goal from O’Rourke, as the Tom Markham Cup prepared for another trip to Oak Leaf territory.

This latest triumph has planted another ominous signpost on the GAA battlefield, pointing to an exciting future for Derry football.

Recent progress at senior level, although hampered by a drop in this year’s championship, has strong support in a thriving youth system.

And today’s generation of teenagers has an important role to play in shaping the master plan.

Miner boss Damian McErlain, in his second stint in the role, has seen his teams lose just once in 30 outings, a remarkable marker of excellence and consistency that is at the heart of the careful cultivation of a culture that is taking shape in Oak Leaf County.

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

Subs: R Collins for Hargan (46), R Biggs for O’Kane (55)

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, f), S Loughran.

Subs: A Garvey (0-1) for Marsden (36), D McGee for Fergus Toale (52), O Gribben for Duffy (55)

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).