Semple semi-final heartbreak for young Royals

The murderous intentions of hope left Meath's All-Ireland u-20 FC ambitions in tatters at Semple Stadium today as Kerry survived a late onslaught to book their place in the final with a 0-12 to 0-11 win.

As Thomas Murphy's final whistle blew 60 seconds after the intended three minutes of injury-time the Meath players fell to their knees - beaten, but not broken.

This is a powerful group of young players who have given Meath so much hope from spring into early summer, but that hope perished on a plethora of missed opportunities.

After an economical opening half that saw Meath play well against wind and kick just one wide in the closing seconds they turned for the second period with the breeze at their backs and in their sails, but they ballooned seven efforts wide, saw another rebound off the timber and squandered a late chance by taking the wrong option.

Expecting perfection in any sport is unrealistic. Meath played well throughout this game, but late on when they were chasing game lady lucky played a cruel trick and a rush of blood to the head led to a nano-second of indecision.

Trailing by two points in the 58th minute Jamie Murphy lobbed over a close range free to make it a one point game.

Seconds later the Meath supporters were celebrating in the stand as Conor McWeeney looked to have fisted the equaliser. However as the ball rebounded off the upright and Kerry somehow scrambled clear to maintain their lead.

Three minutes later McWeeney again found himself through on goals as everyone expected him to fist over the leveller, but as the goals opened up in front of him the Kilbride man got caught in two minds and the chance went abegging.

Captain Liam Kelly did have one late lash from distance, but his effort fell well wide and with it went the Royals chances of reaching the All-Ireland u-20 (u-21) FC final.

Such is the nature of sport that had Meath actually managed to nick the game in the closing stages, Kerry would have been left to rue their own missed opportunities.

Leading by 0-12 to 0-10 Tomas Kennedy was denied a certain goal by a magnificent save from Oisin McDermott and 90 seconds later Kerry cut open the Meath rearguard again, and once again their were denied when Paddy Lane's strike was deflected out for an unconverted '45' by a superb block from Liam Kelly.

The tales of missed opportunities in the closing stages were in stark contrast to the rest of the hugely entertaining, high economy contest, which ebbed one way and flowed the other in a fine exhibition of kick passing, high fielding and effective structured defending.

Kerry started well and opened the scoring after just 40 seconds when Eddie Healy pointed on the counter-attack.

Despite playing against the breeze Meath replied impressively with Shaun Leonard, John O'Regan and Hughie Corcoran on target to make it 0-3 to 0-1 by the end of the fifth minute.

Kerry created the first goal chance a minute later, but McDermott got down low to his left to keep out Luke Crowley's tame effort and moments later Corcoran converted a free after Jack Kinlough was fouled to make it 0-4 to 0-1.

Kennedy settled Kerry with their second point and by the 10th minute they were back on level terms as Cormac Dillon and Daniel Kirby capitalised on Meath errors.

Jamie Murphy edged Meath ahead again after a fine move and at the end of the opening quarter the St Patrick's man added his second to make it 0-6 to 0-4.

Again Kerry replied impressively with Eddie Healy and Ryan Diggins restoring parity before Dillon (free) and Luke Crowley boosted the Munster champions to a two-point lead.

Murphy closed that gap to the minimum when he landed a monster free from over 50 metres to make it 0-7 to 0-8 at the break.

With just four wides between them in the opening half there was 15 between them in the second, but there was no shortage of excellent football.

Kinlough levelled it up just over three minutes after the restart, but Kerry were able to keep Meath at arm's length as Luke Crowley blasted over a great goal chance and then Dillon made it 0-10 to 0-8.

A brilliant catch and point from Charlie O'Connor was his last act before being replaced for Meath, but every time Meath looked like getting on top Kerry responded with a score as Dillon converted a harshly awarded free.

Murphy closed the gap to the minimum again, but in the 47th minute Lane fired over what proved to be Kerry's winning score.

Both sides had their chances. Kerry's were goal opportunities, Meath's were for an equaliser, but all were squandered and it was the Kingdom who marched on.

SCORERS

Kerry - Cormac Dillon 0-4 two frees; Eddie Healy 0-2; Luke Crowley 0-2;Tomas Kennedy 0-1; Daniel Kirby 0-1; Ryan Diggan 0-1; Paddy Lane 0-1.

Meath - Jamie Murphy 0-5 two frees; Hughie Corcoran 0-2 one free; Shaun Leonard 0-1; John O'Regan 0-1; Jack Kinlough 0-1; Charlie O'Connor 0-1.

TEAMS

Kerry - Micheal Tansley; Maidhci Lynch, Ryan Diggan, Gearoid Evans; Charlie Keating, Darragh O'Connor, Cian Lynch; Rob Stack, Eddie Healy; Daniel Kirby, Odhran Ferris, Tomas Kennedy; Cormac Dillon, Aidan Crowley, Luke Crowley. Subs - Adam Segal for Diggan 34m, Cathal Brosnan for Ferris 42m, Fionn Murphy for Evans 43m, Paddy Lane for A Crowley 45m, Liam Adams for Kirby 56m.

Meath - Oisín McDermott; Conor Ennis, Liam Kelly, Sean O’Hare; Eamonn Armstrong, John O’Regan, Killian Smyth; Jack Kinlough, Charlie O’Connor; Shaun Leonard, Rian Stafford, Conor Duke; Hughie Corcoran, Jamie Murphy, Rian McConnell. Subs - Conor McWeeney for Leonard half-time, Sean Emmanuel for Stafford, Tadhg Martyn for O'Connor both 42m, Brian O'Halloran for Smyth 45m, John Harkin for Corcoran 54m.

Referee - Thomas Murphy (Galway).