Tyrone won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship for the first time since 2010 with a dramatic 1-16 to 1-15 win over Kerry in Sunday’s final.
Ben Kelliher netted the only goal of the first half as Kerry held a 1-8 to 0-7 advantage at the break.
Tyrone, without key forward Joel Kerr after his move to Premier League side West Ham, kept fighting and got a goal through Peter Colton’s penalty with nine minutes remaining in Newbridge.
There was nothing to split the sides in injury time, but Diarmuid Martin popped up with the decisive point in the final minute to get Tyrone over the line.
After a tight opening quarter, Tyrone started to stretch their legs as James Mulgrew landed a two-pointer from play and Eoin Long fired over a free.
But after Gearoid White and Danny Murphy chipped into the Red Hands’ advantage, Kelliher worked some space in front of goal and fired into the top corner to put Kerry in front at half-time.
Aodhan Quinn brought Tyrone back within one point just seconds after the restart and Long levelled the final with a free.
Tadhg O’Connell and Diarmuid Martin traded scores before White’s two-pointer moved Kerry back in front.
Long responded for Tyrone but another two-pointer, this time from Kevin Griffin, restored the Kingdom’s three-point buffer.
Kerry could have all but ended the contest after Kelliher was clean through on goal after a poor kick-out from Ronan Donnelly, but the goalkeeper redeemed his error by forcing the forward wide before Padraig Goodman put in a big block.
Griffin then landed a free, but Matthew Daly immediately responded for Tyrone to keep a goal between the sides and Long fired over with the Kerry goal gaping.
There was a further twist with nine minutes to play with Daly was brought down by John Curtin and Tyrone were awarded a penalty, which Colton fired into the top corner to put Gerard Donnelly’s side one point ahead.
Murphy’s well-taken point levelled the contest with five minutes remaining, and Kelliher landed a point after Donnelly pushed his goal-bound effort over the bar as the clocked ticked into four minutes off additional time.
Colton levelled the game once more through a well-struck free, and another effort bounced off the upright allowed Martin to put the Ulster champions ahead heading into the final minute.
Kerry had one last attack but another decisive intervention from Martin, who came away with the ball after goalmouth scramble, sparked wild celebrations as Tyrone ended their long wait for success at this grade.
